Discover the hidden HIV crisis in South Africa and how stigma and stereotypes are fueling this health crisis. Learn about the impact and call to action.
Despite medical breakthroughs — stigma, misinformation, and cultural barriers keep HIV rates high in Black and Brown communities.
Shadawn McCants, of Houston, was diagnosed with HIV at 17-years-old. Now 46, she says back in 1995 when she was diagnosed, it was a death sentence, and there was a lot of fear surrounding her prognosis.
“I tell people I gave birth to triplets: shame, fear, and guilt,” she says. “I was very unsure of what this really meant for me. I had dreams at that time, but because my life changed, I had to take a different path.”
Despite the internal and external shame and stigma she faced, McCants still went on to finish high school, get her undergraduate degree, and later her master’s degree. Now, she’s a licensed therapist and an advocate for HIV awareness.
The days of HIV being a death sentence are long over. With advancements in medicine and prevention efforts, contracting the virus doesn’t mean your life will end. But stigma, misinformation, and shame continue to burden Black and Brown folks who are overwhelmingly vulnerable to the virus.
#HIVcrisis #SouthAfrica #EndStigma
