Denial, stigma & discrimination in health care sectors

During my visit to some of the health institutions nearby the slums where I am working, I was surprised to find the stigma & discrimination prevailing there. It is very sad that the PLHIVs are denied of services due to the stigma & discrimination. It is alarming to learn that the service providers even do not have an idea on how HIV is transmitted and how it is not!! some even do not know about the transgenders. PLHIVs are often refused treatment and surgery, denied admission to hospitals or charged additionally for basic services, making PLHIV wait longer than others for care, and so on. Most of the health care professionals and other supporting staff are not aware of the Universal precaution and they are not following it. When asked about the attendance of STD positive cases the sudden response is 'referral to other centres'. We have so many medical and nursing colleges in our country but nobody is giving importance to this subject in their class rooms and training sessions. Not only that the faculties are sometimes discouraging the students from taking care of PLHIV. We are conducting many awareness programs in the communities but I think there is a lack of the awareness programs in the professional medical colleges. Professors and senior doctors have to be role models for the new generation. They have to take initiative to remove DSD from our public and private health care settings. Accordingly, all the health care professionals and supporting staff have to get the awareness and training on DSD. Right to get treatment is one of the main rights of every human being. If we do not legislate against DSD, the sheer fear of infection and subsequent stigmatization and discrimination will prevent health care workers from treating PLHIV. In addition, to avoid DSD of PLHIV we have to ensure the provision of resources and materials for Universal precaution, like PEP(post exposure prophylaxis), as well as establishing a safe work environment.
The health care providers as well as hospital administrators need to be sensitized on HIV, transmission routes, especially how HIV does not transmit, as well as importance of following Universal Precautions