Specialist physician in internal medicine and public health advocate Dr Minado Paul has strongly condemned the stigma surrounding HIV in Vanuatu, warning that discrimination and public shaming only worsen the situation and discourage people from seeking help.
Speaking on the Kava mo Kajap podcast, hosted by Daily Post Newsroom Coordinator Mavuku Tokona, Dr Paul said she is “completely against the stigma of HIV,” describing it as a disease burdened by historical shame and misunderstanding.
“I’m completely against the stigma of HIV,” she said. “It has more stigma… for some reason, it has more stigma.”
Dr Paul explained that HIV has carried negative perceptions since the early 1980s, when the virus was first linked overseas to secrecy and vulnerable groups.
“The stigma has gone with it everywhere it went,” she said.
Dr Paul also rejected growing public calls for HIV-positive individuals to be identified or exposed, saying such actions violate basic medical ethics.
“No, absolutely not. I’m completely against that,” she stressed.
She reminded the public that confidentiality is a fundamental principle in healthcare and applies to all medical conditions, not only HIV.
“As a doctor… every disease should be confidential, not necessarily just HIV,” she said. “No one is entitled to know the status of another person.”
Dr Paul emphasised that HIV is no longer a death sentence if detected early and treated properly.
“The good news is that HIV may not be curable, but it is treatable,” she said.
She encouraged everyone to get tested and know their status, noting that routine testing is important for all people, including healthcare professionals.
“I’ve done my HIV test… every time I’m pregnant,” she said. “I think it’s important that everyone should know.”
She added that treatment significantly reduces the risk of transmission.
“If you are in treatment, the chances of you passing it on to your partner are almost nil,” she explained.
The discussion comes as Vanuatu’s officially recorded HIV cases remain relatively low, currently standing at 15.
“As of the last count, I believe it’s 15,” Dr Paul confirmed.
She noted that recent detections have largely come through routine screening processes, including mandatory blood donation testing.
“The recent ones have just been through… mandatory screening, through blood donation,” she said.
Dr Paul ended her message with a call for responsibility, compassion, and awareness rather than fear-driven responses.
“I really want people to know that HIV is no big deal, and it can be treated,” she said.
Health advocates continue to urge the public to support testing, education, and respectful treatment of those living with HIV, stressing that ending stigma is key to protecting the wider community.
SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
