Mon 14 Sep 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Marama Pala A new study says specific forms of education are needed to alleviate the impact of HIV among Maori and Pasifika people. Marama Pala, the Executive Director of INA (Maori, Indigenous and South Pacific) HIV/AIDS Foundation, has released findings from a two year study of Maori and Pasifika living with HIV and AIDS. It looks at how models of whanau ora, self-care plans, goals and aspirations that have been implemented with whanau living with HIV. “Today, the impact isn’t so much HIV, as it is now a manageable chronic illness. It’s managing the stigma and discrimination associated with living with HIV, and this needs specific key approaches,” Pala says. “For Maori and Pasifika what was highlighted in our mahi is that stigma and discrimination creates secrets, loneliness, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, with many opting not to take medication because of fear of whanau knowing their status, self-stigma, and denial.” Pala says despite unprecedented progress in the global HIV and AIDS response, social marginalisation, economic inequality and other structural factors continue to fuel the HIV
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 14th September 2015 - 8:41am