Residents from Mavoko sub-county have been urged to condemn stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS to promote the fight against the scourge.
The call was made by director of Positive Health Kenya (NGO) Mary Wabwire who said stigmatization among the residents compromise the war against the disaster.
Wabwire who addressed the press at her office in Athi River town on Tuesday said majority of those infected with the virus were shying away and therefore hiding from the reality due to stigmatization.
She said such individuals were seriously undergoing difficult situations arguing some of them could not even turn up for their anti-retro viral drugs from designated health facilities for fear of stigmatization.
Wabwire noted that the situation exposed more residents to HIV infection asserting the rates of new infections could rise because several residents especially the youth were shying from visiting VCT centres in the region to know their status.
She called on all the residents including churches, community organizations, women and the youth among other stakeholders in the region to join hand in the fight against eliminating stigmatization in a bid of zero-rating HIV/AIDS in the sub-county.