HIV and AIDS related stigmatization and discrimination comes in divers forms; prejudice, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS.
Stigma and discrimination manifest themselves differently across countries, communities, religious groups and individuals.
They occur alongside other forms such as racism and stigma based on physical appearance and can be directed towards those involved in what are considered socially unacceptable activities such as prostitution or drug abuse.
Stigma does not only make it more difficult for people trying to come to terms with HIV and manage their illness on a personal level, but it interferes with attempts to fight the AIDS disease as a whole.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon once said, "Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It is a main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease or to seek treatment if infected."
According to him stigma makes AIDS the silent killer because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it or taking any available precautions.
Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world.
The reasons for stigma and discrimination to HIV and AIDS are many and varied which include fear of contagion coupled with misconceptions about people who are infected.
HIV infection is often thought to be the result of personal irresponsibility that deserves to be punished through stigma and discrimination.
The stigmatization and discrimination attached to the disease is discouraging individuals, families and societies to protect themselves and provide support and reassurance to those infected.
This hinders, in no small way, efforts at stemming the disease and it complicates decisions about testing, disclosure of status, and ability to negotiate prevention behaviours, including use of family planning services.
Reluctance to determine HIV status or to discuss or practice safe sex means that people are more likely to infect others with the possibility of a higher number of AIDS-related deaths.
An unwillingness to take an HIV test means that more people are diagnosed late, when the virus has already progressed to AIDS, making treatment less effective and causing early death.
Research by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) found the possible consequences of HIV-related stigma to be loss of income, loss of marriage and childbearing options, poor care within the health sector, withdrawal of care giving in the home, loss of hope and feelings of worthlessness and loss of reputation.
This discrimination can affect all aspects of a person's daily life, for example, when they wish to travel, use healthcare facilities or seek employment.
A country's laws, rules and policies regarding HIV can have a significant effect on the lives of people living with the virus.
Many of these laws have been justified on the grounds that HIV and AIDS pose a public health risk.
The government of Ghana attaches importance to the fight against the disease and has come out with laws that do not allow discrimination at all levels.
In Africa and elsewhere, some governments have made it difficult for people to disclose their status because of stigma and discrimination which had contributed to a number of people contracting the disease at an alarming rate.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda supported the national policy of dismissing or not promoting members of the armed forces who test HIV positive.
The Chinese government advocated compulsory HIV testing for any Chinese citizen who has been living outside of the country for more than a year.
The UK legal system can prosecute individuals who pass the virus to another person even if they did so without intent.
Lack of confidentiality has been repeatedly mentioned as a particular problem in health care settings.
Many people living with HIV and AIDS do not get to choose how, when and to whom to disclose their HIV status.
Fear of exposure to HIV as a result of lack of protective equipment is another factor fuelling discrimination among doctors and nurses in under-resourced clinics and hospitals in many African countries.
In the workplace, people living with HIV may suffer stigma from their co-workers and employers, such as social isolation and ridicule, or experience discriminatory practices, such as termination or refusal of employment.
Many countries have laws that restrict the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV.
Restrictions can include the need to disclose HIV status or to be subject to a mandatory HIV test, the need for discretionary approval to stay, and the deportation of individuals once their HIV-positive status is discovered.
Until the fourth of January 2010 the United States of America restricted all HIV positive people from entering the country, whether they were on holiday or visiting on a longer-term basis.
In some countries people living with HIV lack knowledge of their rights in society. In this case, education is needed so they are able to challenge the discrimination, stigma and denial that they encounter.
Institutional and other monitoring mechanisms can enforce the rights of people with HIV and provide powerful means of mitigating the worst effects of discrimination and stigma.
Mr Ban Ki-Moon said "We can fight stigma; Enlightened laws and policies are key" but it begins with openness and the courage to speak out.
Schools should teach respect and understanding, religious leaders should preach tolerance, and the media should condemn prejudice and use its influence to advance social change.
However, policy or law cannot solely combat HIV/AIDS related discrimination; Stigma and discrimination will continue to exist so long as societies as a whole have a poor understanding of HIV and AIDS.
The fear and prejudice that lie at the core of the HIV/AIDS-related discrimination need to be tackled at the community and national levels, with AIDS education playing a crucial role.
A more enabling environment needs to be created to increase the visibility of people with HIV/AIDS as a 'normal' part of any society. The presence of treatment can make this task easier.
Where there is the opportunity to live a fulfilling and long life with HIV, people are less afraid of AIDS and victims will be more willing to be tested for HIV, to disclose their status, and to seek care if necessary.
The task is to confront the fear-based messages and biased social attitudes in order to reduce the discrimination and stigma of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The Ghana AIDS Commission needs to be commended for the good work done since it was established and the government and non-governmental organizations to support the Commission to discharge its functions effectively.