Tag: Stigma
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Kenya’s Silent Struggle: Leprosy Remains a Challenge Decades After ‘Elimination’
Introduction: A Lingering Challenge in Kenya Leprosy, a historically feared disease, is curable with early diagnosis and proper treatment. Yet in Kenya, the battle continues as new cases emerge and communities confront stigma, delayed care, and uneven access to services. While the country was once hailed for advancing toward leprosy elimination, experts warn that declared…
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Jane Darville: A Courageous Voice Helping AIDS Patients When Stigma Roamed
Fighting Stigma at the AIDS Crisis Frontline In the late 1980s, as fear and misinformation about AIDS fueled stigma, a quiet but determined advocate emerged: Jane Darville. While many faced discrimination and financial barriers, Darville pressed forward with a mission to bring care, dignity, and comfort to people dying of AIDS. Her work exemplified the…
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Mpox in Tema: A Survivor’s Voice and the Fight Against Stigma
Mpox in Ghana: The human side of a public health challenge In Tema, a coastal city in Ghana, a mpox survivor speaks candidly about the confusion, fear, and eventual relief that followed a difficult illness. The account, shared by Elizabeth Larkwor Baah for the Ghana News Agency (GNA), offers a window into how mpox affects…
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Heart attack survivor from County Durham faces online abuse
Heart attack survivor in County Durham speaks out about online abuse A woman from Waterhouses in County Durham has spoken about enduring online abuse after sharing her experience of a heart attack. The case highlights a troubling trend: people living with cardiovascular disease often confront stigma, misinformation, and, increasingly, direct online hostility. The impact of…
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Heart Attack Survivor Trolled: End Cardio Stigma in Durham
Shedding Light on a Silent Stigma When Louise McGill shared her experience of a heart attack, she hoped to raise awareness about a condition that affects thousands of people in the North East. Instead, she received a wave of online abuse and trolling that highlighted a troubling reality: cardiovascular disease still carries stigma. In communities…
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Heart attack survivor from County Durham speaks out after online abuse
Stigma and online abuse: a heart attack survivor’s experience Louise McGill, a resident of Waterhouses in County Durham, has joined a growing chorus of voices calling for greater understanding of cardiovascular disease. After suffering a heart attack, Louise chose to share her story publicly to help others and to highlight the ongoing stigma that people…
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Cork Publican Marks Recovery with Exhibition to Help Others Facing Addiction
Recovery in the Public Eye: A Cork Publican’s Inspiring Project In Cork, a publican who spent three decades battling alcoholism is turning his personal struggle into a beacon of hope for others. The upcoming exhibition, centered on the theme Finding Beautiful, aims to illuminate the harm caused by addiction while offering a path toward healing…
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Gender-focused Training for HIV Providers Reduces Stigma, but Implementation Proves Challenging
Introduction: The promise of gender-focused training Healthcare settings increasingly recognize that stigma toward gender diversity can deter people living with HIV from seeking care. A growing body of evidence suggests that gender-focused training for HIV providers—covering gender identity, sexual orientation, and the social determinants of health—can reduce implicit and explicit biases. When clinicians understand patients’…
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Factors Influencing Antiretroviral Therapy Completion Among People Living with HIV
Introduction Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has transformed HIV from a fatal infection into a manageable chronic condition for many people living with HIV. Yet, achieving and maintaining ART completion—consistently taking the prescribed medication until treatment goals are reached—remains a complex challenge. Completion depends on a mix of individual, clinical, and systemic factors that interact over time.…
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Film Raises Empathy and Awareness for Youths with HIV
New Film Bridges Empathy and Awareness for Youths Living with HIV A stirring new film sheds light on the experiences of young people living with the HIV virus, weaving a story of family secrets, stigma, and resilience. By centering youth voices and personal narratives, the movie invites audiences to reconsider assumptions about HIV and AIDS,…