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HIV and AIDS: language and the blame game

The negative and dehumanizing language used by scientists discussing global HIV policy is sapping the soul of those on the receiving end. The call for an alternative language of nature and nurture must be heard.

By Alice Welbourn
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A group of about 50 people posed for a photo wearing matching t-shirts
A group of about 50 people posed for a photo wearing matching t-shirts

Volunteers at the International AIDS Conference, Vancouver, 2015. Photo: ICW Global, all rights reserved.

While attending the International AIDS Society Pathogenesis Conference  in Vancouver last week I posted on my facebook page:

"Have retreated from IAS2015 for a breather. Too much negative language about "loss to follow up", "defaulters", "failure to achieve viral suppression", "shock and kill" strategies against HIV reservoirs is damaging to this soul..."

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0