Decrease in HIV/AIDS suicide deaths

National Aids Council communications director Madeline Dube said the number of HIV-related deaths had gone down from 3,000 to 1,000 per week following the widespread anti-retroviral treatment programmes undertaken since 2004. Most deaths still occurring are due to non-adherence to treatment.

“Of the 1,000 deaths per week, maybe one person would have committed suicide but we have not recorded suicide-related deaths. People living with the virus especially in border towns are dying because they are defaulting treatment,” said Dube.

She said people used to commit suicide in the early years when AIDS was discovered because they had no access to medication and AIDS was a hushed subject.

“It was very difficult to talk about AIDS then, but now it is a subject that can be discussed openly. People are getting tested and have access to treatment which has generally made it easier for people to accept and live positively.” Women AIDS Support Network director Mary Sandasi said discrimination had been Zimbabwe’s number one enemy, which saw many organisations embarking on awareness campaigns.

“During the early years when AIDS was discovered people thought being HIV positive was a death sentence, and this pushed them to commit suicide. Being HIV positive meant that one was judged and condemned by the society which has become a thing of the past”.

“Now people are more aware that HIV is just like any other disease. What is important is for one to know his or her status and seek treatment. Diseases like cancer and tuberculosis have become more deadly than HIV,” said Sandasi.

Zimbabwe National Network for Positive People programme coordinator for the Stigma Index, Tonderai Chiduku, said the National HIV Stigma Index was due in March. This will show the causes of HIV deaths.

“The index is the first robust attempt to establish a baseline for documenting the stigma and discrimination experiences and deaths. We are going to work with all districts across the country and come up with a gauge for stigma levels and find out if people are committing suicide,” said Chiduku.