Paulina Quintao – The National Commission to Combat HIV/AIDS – Timor-Leste (CNCS-TL) is working in partnership with the government to establish a shelter to house HIV/AIDS sufferers.

CNCS-TL planning and assessment national director Venancio Coelho said this initiative was intended not to discriminate against sufferers but to provide them with a place to rest and recuperate.

"We're not trying to isolate them from society because this would contravene their rights, and as citizens they have the right to live freely and to access education and public facilities," he said.

He said the shelter would allow district-based HIV/AIDS sufferers to stay in Dili for treatment, along with those who may have been ostracized by their family or community as a result of their condition.

"For those facing stigma and discrimination, the shelter is a place for them to stay to get their health check-ups," Coelho said.

He said the facility was currently under construction at Tibar and would soon be ready to take patients, despite the fact staff and other resources were in short supply.

Local organizations Esperansa and Estrela Plus are working with CNCS-TL to get the word out to patients.

Coelho said Timorese people knew little about HIV/AIDS and it would take time to convince people to be accepting of those with the disease.

Ministry of Health data shows that from 2003 to March 2014, 426 cases of HIV/AIDS were diagnosed in Timor-Leste. Of this number, 41 patients have died, 146 patients are undergoing treatment and a further 239 patients are unaccounted for.

Commission F (education, health, culture, veterans' affairs and gender) equality member Ilda Maria da Conceicao voiced her in-principle support for initiative but said a feasibility study was needed.

"We need to look carefully at this issue because when people are admitted to this shelter, people in the community will know they have this disease and they are at risk of being humiliated," she said.

She said it was important to raise awareness of the disease so community members were aware of the disease, thereby reducing its stigma. "I think it might be better to keep the clinic low-key so there will not be discrimination against patients," she said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/12744-aids-shelter-to-lessen-sting-of-discrimination