Latest news with #stigma
CBC
4 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Applications now open for B.C.'s publicly funded IVF program
Starting today, some people struggling with infertility will be able to apply to the province's IVF program. For those who qualify, the program would provide up to 19 thousand dollars for one round of IVF. The Medical Director at the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine says the province's program can help address stigma around infertility.
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
People in rural communities travellling hours to be tested for STIs because of stigma, doctor says
Members of the public in rural communities are travelling for many hours to reduce the risk of being seen getting tested or treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Consultant of Sexual Health and HIV Care at St James's Hospital in Dublin, Dr Aisling Loy, told The Pat Kenny show on Newstalk that 'stigma and shame' around sexually transmitted diseases are very much still hindering her work. Advertisement 'It (the stigma and shame) is probably a bit less than it was in the 1980s and the 1990s, but there is still a lot of shame. 'I work in Dublin, but I think outside of Dublin, especially, I would have patients who travel for many, many hours to come to a clinic in Dublin, so not to be seen locally. 'I hear those stories every day of shame and stigma still attached [to STIs].' STI figures in Ireland are 31 per cent higher than they were in 2019. However, the numbers decreased by 11 per cent in a twelve month period last year. Advertisement Dr Loy said that the figures peaked in 2023. 'Thankfully, over the last two years, the strategy and the interventions that have been in place have started to see a decline. 'So far this year, we've seen 15 to 20 per cent decreases - so, that's the good news. 'However, overall, it's been increasing; we don't know fully why. Advertisement 'We think there's more access to care with free online testing services that are available. 'We know that people are now maybe taking more risks; they're not using condoms as much. 'They're maybe having more sexual partners and we've had a rise in our population as well - so, there's many factors.' Dr Loy continued that the expansion of easy access to sexual health care will significantly assist healthcare professionals in reducing the number of people contracting STIs. Advertisement 'That's really important, for people to be able to test and access treatment if they need it,' she said. 'So, the thing that they noticed was that with the 23 free clinics that the HSE provides, there's still 10 counties in Ireland that don't provide any sexual health services in their counties. 'So, it's all about expansion of services and making access to care more accessible to not just young people, but the full population.' Dr Loy added that there has been a 'lot of progress on HIV' in recent years. 'The group that should be targeted are being targeted with messaging online and public health campaigns,' she said. 'That's mostly in the GBMSM (gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men) community. 'And we have PReP, which is HIV prevention, which was introduced in Ireland in 2019. We also 'test and treat', so as soon as people are diagnosed, they're on treatment. This means that they can't pass it on.'
WebMD
a day ago
- Health
- WebMD
Living with HIV as a Person of Color
Everyone's experience with HIV is different. But we all face how tricky this diagnosis is to unravel and navigate. Especially in the beginning. And for people of color, being HIV positive comes with even more challenges. The road to acceptance of HIV can be frightening and lonely for anyone. But it can be an 'amplifier' for people of color. That's because obstacles that already existed for us become even bigger. Facing systemic racism, patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny all while also adjusting to life with HIV is extremely difficult. And because everyone's experience is unique, there's even more nuance to take into consideration. Such as intersectionality. This means people of color who identify as LGBTQ+ are at higher risk of shame, guilt, and conflict. Add HIV stigma, and an already difficult situation can feel next to impossible. For Black women, Black gay men, and Black trans women in particular, life with HIV can also be an uphill battle because of disparities related to care, insurance, and viral suppression. Before contracting HIV, I spent years struggling through acceptance of sexuality. Once I tackled the most difficult parts of coming out, I started to feel like I was figuring out life and how to live it. Then, right after I turned 30, I learned I was HIV positive. It felt like a reset in the worst possible way. I was starting over with yet another set of obstacles to overcome. In the beginning, it felt like one more layer of difficulty I had to contend with. That meant confronting all the possible implications of disclosing my status, much like I'd already had to do with my sexuality. Backlash, rejection, ridicule, and violence were all possibilities I had to be realistic about. They were real risks of being open about living with HIV as a Black gay man. By the time HIV entered the picture, I was no stranger to being misunderstood, othered, and isolated. But that didn't make it easier. I had to face the same fears and anxieties as before. But it felt like the stakes were even higher, because I had even more to lose. Adopting yet another identity marker like HIV meant I was even more vulnerable to being misunderstood, mistreated, and discriminated against. Fortunately, I was surrounded by friends and chosen family who supported, loved, and cared for me. I was fortunate. Being welcomed and affirmed is not the case for many in my situation. This is one reason it's important to have a support system and to find your tribe, as I was eventually able to. Having others who understand what you're experiencing goes a long way in combating feelings of isolation, loneliness, and being misunderstood. For people of color, having people with an inherent understanding of what you're up against and how to manage it can make all the difference in the world – especially when it comes to HIV and how it requires you to be open to making changes and adjustments. I've lived most of my adult life at multiple intersections. Doing so can feel empowering, once you accept all of it and figure out a way to use it to your advantage. What that looks like from person to person is guaranteed to be different, depending on your intersections and identity markers. Leaning into being more vocal and visible about my unique set of experiences became one of my superpowers. Each time I was transparent, it was freeing and liberating. I also was able to be an anchor and positive example for others. Living with HIV as a person of color can mean facing multiple challenges at the same time, while grappling with all parts of your identity. Although it takes determination, patience, and grace, finding a way to integrate parts of yourself in ways that work for you can have valuable and long-lasting benefits. Not just for you, but for others who may need to be reminded they're not alone or invisible. Or without agency and power to advocate for themselves.
WebMD
a day ago
- Health
- WebMD
25 Years With HIV
It's hard to believe that last month marked 25 years since my HIV a quarter century y'all! I'm only 52, so I've lived nearly half of my life with HIV. I wasn't expecting to live beyond five years, so that's 20 years of borrowed time. Or is it? It's not exactly borrowed time when the science behind modern medicine is this solid. It's come so far in such a short time. I think people have trouble keeping up with the current situation. Perhaps change has come so fast that some have trouble believing it. Sadly, the horrific stigma that people living with HIV have to endure remains completely unchanged. It's as though no progress has been made at all. I've seen a lot of change, while some things never change. When I was diagnosed, medicines had only recently improved to become the lifesaving drugs we know today. Antiretrovirals (ARTs) were developed in 1996, and they changed everything. But it took time for this new paradigm to really reach the medical community. For several years, many primary care doctors didn't know how effective the new medication was. They didn't know it'd make the virus untransmittable. Many weren't knowledgeable about HIV or that new drugs even existed. When I was diagnosed in June 2000, I was given a one- to five-year death sentence. I shouldn't have been. ARTs had been out for four years. But my doctor was uninformed. This was common among doctors for years. Public knowledge of the disease has scarcely changed at all. To some degree I can understand. It took me many years to fully comprehend I wasn't going to die – at least not from AIDS. I lived in unnecessary terror, waiting to die, because education about HIV was scarce and almost taboo. Most education systems don't teach about HIV. It's treated like a controlled substance. If HIV advocates and educators are allowed into schools to talk about HIV, they're severely restricted on what they can and can't teach. So the education is inadequate and incomplete. This perpetuation of ignorance causes stigma to exist. And stigma kills. I lived with this disease for 15 years before I learned about U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable. That's when you take your meds as prescribed and reach an undetectable viral load (meaning that there's not enough virus in your blood to be counted). When you have an undetectable viral load, the virus becomes dormant and can't be transmitted. This is incredible information for people who live with HIV. It's changed everything we once knew about HIV – from being a death sentence to being no more than a chronic condition. It also means people with HIV can safely have intimate relationships and sexual intercourse. They can even have children without risking the safety of their child. Medical science that made this possible continues to evolve. An entire small cup of pills (called a cocktail) from the 1980s and '90s became a two-pill-a-day regimen. Then that became a one-pill-a-day routine. Without a cure, I thought one pill a day was as good as we could get. But today we have an injection that can last for months. Cure research has made incredible strides over the past few years. We're so close. But public perception of HIV hasn't abated, despite all the progress. Our society remains fearful and ignorant about HIV. People who live with HIV still suffer from strong stigma that's not just hurtful or rude, it can also be fatal. The last 25 years have been one hell of a journey. Times have changed. So have the meds. Now it's time for people to change, too.
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Will body parts fall off? Dispelling myths about leprosy
Leprosy is an infection caused by the slow-growing bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : Leprosy, also known as Leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease , is a chronic infectious illness caused by the slow-growing bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. While often considered a disease of the past, leprosy continues to affect thousands worldwide. Early signs include reddish or pale patches on the skin, painless ulcers on the feet, muscle weakness, and numbness. Delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications, including deformities, blindness, and chronic pain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 200,000 new cases of leprosy are reported globally each year, with the majority in Brazil, India, and Indonesia. While Malaysia has achieved leprosy elimination at the national level (fewer than one case per 10,000 people), the fight is not over: recent trends show a concerning rise in new cases in some parts of the country. In fact, Malaysia recorded a 40% increase in leprosy cases in 2023, while cases – including one death – have been reported this year in Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan. Sadly, misunderstanding and fear still surround this illness, often leading to unnecessary discrimination and isolation of those affected. Stigma makes people hide their symptoms, delay treatment, and feel alone. This not only hurts them – it also makes it harder to stop the spread of the disease. Here are some myths and facts surrounding leprosy: Myth: Leprosy is highly contagious. Fact: Leprosy spreads through prolonged, close contact via droplets from coughing or sneezing. Once treatment begins, patients quickly become non-infectious. Leprosy is highly contagious. Leprosy spreads through prolonged, close contact via droplets from coughing or sneezing. Once treatment begins, patients quickly become non-infectious. Myth: Leprosy is a curse or punishment for sin. Fact: Leprosy is a bacterial infection that has nothing to do with curses or sin – a misconception likely influenced by mention of the disease in historical texts and holy books. As early stages of leprosy can be mistaken for other diseases, early diagnosis is crucial. (Wikipedia pic) Myth: Leprosy causes body parts to fall off. Fact: This is entirely untrue. However, if untreated, leprosy can cause nerve damage, which may lead to injuries due to loss of sensation. These injuries, in turn, could become infected and cause complications. Leprosy causes body parts to fall off. This is entirely untrue. However, if untreated, leprosy can cause nerve damage, which may lead to injuries due to loss of sensation. These injuries, in turn, could become infected and cause complications. Myth: Leprosy has no cure. Fact: Multi-drug therapy – a combination of antibiotics typically with a six- to 12-month treatment course – is highly effective in treating leprosy. Leprosy has no cure. Multi-drug therapy – a combination of antibiotics typically with a six- to 12-month treatment course – is highly effective in treating leprosy. Myth: People with leprosy should be isolated. Fact: There is no need to isolate people with leprosy as, with early diagnosis and treatment, they can live normal lives without risk to others. Hope for the future The health ministry has launched the LaKAR programme ('latihan, kesan, analisa, rawat, rujuk'), aimed at training healthcare staff, improving early detection, and raising public awareness. The government also uses single-dose rifampicin as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for close contacts of leprosy patients: a strategy proven effective in reducing transmission, especially in high-risk communities. Ultimately, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, and a supportive, informed community can make all the difference. By dispelling myths and ending stigma, more people can be encouraged to seek help and prevent unnecessary suffering. With continued vigilance, compassion, and public cooperation, Malaysia can move closer to eliminating leprosy once and for all. For more information, visit the Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association website. This article was written by final-year medical students of Group 8A Community Posting, supervised by Prof Dr Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
