Freetown — Project officer for network of HIV positives in Sierra Leone (NETHIPS) said his organization was working to get some members of the public refrain from stigmatizing people living with AIDS.

Harry Ben Alpha told journalists at the national stadium presidential lounge that stigmatization was seriously affecting people living with the disease, as communities continue to frown at them.

"The habit of stigmatizing people living with HIV must stop now," he said.

Dominic Lamin, deputy director at the ministry of information and communications said health delivery workers were in the habit of stigmatizing people living with HIV.

Lamin appealed to health workers at various centers to desist from stigmatizing HIV patients because such a development could discourage people from coming for test.

A representative from the United Nations Zanaib Mansary said stigmatization must stop, adding that people living with the virus could also be healthy.

"Drugs are now available free of charge at health centers nationwide," she said.