The EU Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, is leading efforts to combat HIV stigma by promoting public education and creating inclusive environments. Her goal is to ensure that HIVpositive individuals can access services and workplaces without fear, replacing prejudice with empathy and understanding.
HIVpositive individuals in Cyprus face significant challenges, including social stigma and discrimination that impact employment and social integration. Despite medical progress, they contend with selfrejection, reduced quality of life, and inadequate healthcare resources, like the understaffed Gregoriou clinic. Financial strains also exist, with calls to increase government benefits to support patient dignity.
