Sunyani: Women living with HIV cry for loans

Women living with HIV in the Brong Ahafo region have observed that the poor state of the economy, neglect and lack of support from family members and the community are major contributory factors to the high occurrence of malnutrition in people living with the virus.

The women have therefore called on government institutions, NGOs, religious organizations championing the fight against stigmatization to empower people living with HIV with jobs. They suggested the establishment of micro credit facilities for HIV patients to enable them have access to credit to start their own small-scale businesses in order to generate income to support their families.

The spokesperson for the women, Miss Christiana Boateng lamented over the discrimination against them.

“We have immigration laws and policies restraining the movement of people living with HIV and AIDS,” she told Starrfmonline.com.

She said their members are currently engaged in small businesses to keep them going. She called for laws that respect and protect people living with HIV/AIDS, especially women in places of employment, schools and immigration.

She also noted that loss of shelter and livelihoods experienced by women living with HIV and AIDS could push them into an eddy of destitution and marginalisation.