Monday December 2, 2024
Participants gather in Garowe for the 2024 World AIDS Day commemoration, organized by the Puntland AIDS Commission (PAC) in collaboration with UNICEF, WFP, and other partners. The event highlighted the importance of addressing stigma and promoting access to treatment for individuals living with HIV.
Garowe (HOL) — Hundreds of HIV-positive individuals in Puntland are abandoning life-saving antiretroviral therapy due to societal stigma and discrimination, leaving them vulnerable to serious health complications, the Puntland AIDS Commission (PAC) revealed on World AIDS Day.
Despite efforts to expand access to treatment, only 646 people are currently enrolled in HIV programs across the region.
The PAC disclosed that 646 people across Puntland are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy, a cornerstone of HIV treatment. The majority of patients are concentrated in urban centers with relatively better healthcare access, including Galkayo (205), Garowe (197), and Bosaso (181). Smaller towns such as Qardho and Badhan account for significantly fewer patients, with 54 and 9 individuals, respectively.
However, PAC officials cautioned that these figures represent only a fraction of those living with HIV in Puntland. “Many are too afraid to seek treatment because of the stigma they face,” said PAC Director Abdiqadir Burburshe.
The consequences are severe. Discrimination forces individuals into silence, denying them the chance to manage their condition effectively. “We have seen patients stop their medication entirely, risking their health and lives,” Burburshe added.
While urban centers like Garowe and Bosaso have established treatment facilities, rural areas remain underserved, compounding the problem for patients in remote communities. Limited healthcare infrastructure and entrenched societal prejudices make it difficult to bridge the gap.
HIV-related stigma is not unique to Puntland. Healthcare officials report that across Somalia, societal misconceptions and deep-seated discrimination against individuals living with HIV have contributed to low testing rates and poor treatment adherence. According to a 2017 stigma index, many Somalis expressed unwillingness to interact with HIV-positive individuals.
Although Somalia’s overall HIV prevalence remains relatively low at 0.55%, the epidemic’s impact is disproportionately severe among marginalized groups. Women and girls, who account for the majority of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, are particularly vulnerable due to limited access to education and healthcare resources.
To address these challenges, Somalia has implemented National Strategic Plans aimed at reducing HIV transmission and combating stigma.
In Puntland, PAC has partnered with religious leaders, community elders, and civil society organizations to promote acceptance and encourage those who have stopped treatment to resume their medication.
Puntland AIDS Commission (PAC) Director Abdiqadir Burburshe addresses the media during World AIDS Day commemorations in Garowe, emphasizing the urgent need to combat stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive individuals in the region