Inter Press Service - December 1, 2003
Sonny Inbaraj

Her predicament is typical of HIV-positive Ethiopians. Health workers say the biggest obstacle to these people leading normal lives is the stigma associated with the disease.

"I knew that I had the...virus in my blood in 1996. My husband died five years before that, and because his illness was very serious I decided to have an HIV/AIDS test," said Aster.

"When I tested positive, I was very angry and felt hopeless. I was contemplating suicide and wanted to do bad things to myself," she added.

In due time, Aster accepted her condition and sought counseling at a local non-governmental organisation (NGO).

"I came to terms with living with HIV...because of the support I got from friends who are also living with the virus...I know I can live safely, and when I get sick I always get treatment," she said.

However, she remains reluctant to inform her family about her HIV status - this even as people around the globe joined hands, Monday, to commemorate World AIDS Day.

"I wanted to first tell my sister, who is a nurse, about my status - but I was doubtful. So I invented a story about a friend of mine who has the virus and was living with me," she said.

This tale didn't elicit any sympathy from the sister. Instead, she delivered a scolding to Aster.

"My sister shouted: 'Why don't you try to take care of your children who have no father, instead of living with HIV positive people. You can contract the virus yourself'."

She adds, "My sister said if it wasn't her profession, she would have shunned HIV-positive people...So I became afraid and did not dare speak about my status."

According to official statistics, 2.2 million Ethiopians are infected with HIV, out of a population of 67 million. The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) puts the number at close to three million, with an estimated 5,000 new infections every week. Almost one million children have been orphaned by the pandemic in Ethiopia, says the agency.

UNAIDS also estimates that 91 percent of reported AIDS cases are within the age group of 15 to 49 years - the most economically active and productive group in Ethiopia.

"The situation is...critical. HIV/AIDS not only requires massive medical infrastructure, which this country lacks...It is also an economic disease, in that it undermines the country's efforts in poverty reduction," said Dr Getachew Demeke, interim UNAIDS Country Co-ordinator for Ethiopia.

Demeke added his voice to those who claim that the greatest hurdle in fighting HIV/AIDS is the discrimination suffered by Ethiopians who reveal their HIV status.

"Ethiopia is a very religious and conservative country and people do not discuss sexual issues out in the open," he said. "The prevalent view is that people with HIV/AIDS brought the disease on themselves, and are being punished by God for their promiscuity."

"The most difficult thing is telling Ethiopians that this is a vicious disease that does not discriminate, and (that) one does not have to be promiscuous to get infected," added the UN official.

Demeke also said that many people were avoiding voluntary testing for fear of being stigmatised by society if they tested positive. "Sometimes the consequences can be more devastating than the disease," he noted.

Even NGO's are struggling in their effort to open discussions with communities about the risks of unprotected sex, and the need for a change in behaviour in order to control the spread of HIV/AIDS.

"From surveys done in my program area, 50 percent of the people think that those who are not sick do not really have HIV," said Selalem Adguna, Program Officer for the Menshen fur Menshen Foundation.

"Talking about sex is highly taboo in this country and that is the main stumbling block to HIV/AIDS education in the communities," he added.

But, noted Adguna, "If parents do not discuss these issues with their children, then their children will lack the knowledge about sexuality and this will really expose them to the virus."

In the meantime, Aster has decided not to tell her children about her HIV/AIDS status.

"So far they don't know that I am HIV positive. But when they reach 15 years of age I will tell them," she said.

"They will be mature enough (then) to understand these things...So I will tell them at that time." (END/AF/EA/HD/HE/SD/SI/JH/03)

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