Living with HIV in Mississippi
2nd September 2011 |
Mississippi invests little in HIV programs. The state's policies also promote stigma and criminalize the transmission of the disease. Sandra Stringfellow tells her story.
Thousands of Mississippians are at risk for HIV, and many who are infected are denied lifesaving measures and treatment because of counterproductive state laws and policies, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Mississippi has resisted effective approaches to HIV prevention and treatment and instead supported policies that promote stigma and discrimination, fueling one of the nation's highest AIDS rates, Human Rights Watch said.
The 59-page report, "Rights at Risk: State Response to HIV in Mississippi," documents the harmful impact of Mississippi's policies on state residents, including people living with HIV and those at high risk of contracting it.
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2011/03/09/rights-risk-0