We are looking for thinkers, activists, and advocates who are passionate about making a difference through advocacy to make an impact on improving health equity and eliminating HIV related stigma and discrimination. Evidence shows that stigma and discrimination in health-care settings are widespread across the world, therefore, tackling stigma in health clinics is key to ensuring health equity. Breaking down HIV-related stigma and ending discrimination against people living with HIV are critically important because they prevent people from seeking HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.

According to UNAIDS, examples of discrimination against people living with HIV in health care settings include the following:

• Reduced standard of care 

• Denial of access to care and treatment

• HIV testing without consent

• Breaches of confidentiality including identifying someone as HIV-positive to relatives and outside agencies

• Negative attitudes and degrading practices by health-care workers

Over the course of the summer you will be working closely with a team of other interns to figure out what steps we can take to end stigma & discrimination. Some projects we will be working on may include, but are not limited to: 

• Looking at where denial of access to HIV care & treatment is happening, how often it happens, and why it happens

• What factors are causing HIV stigma & discrimination in healthcare settings and what locations this is occurring frequently

• Why stigma is still occurring around HIV treatment such as PrEP even though it is highly effective for preventing HIV

  • Taking findings and contacting local officials to implement changes

Requirements:
-Strong oral and written communication skills
-Someone who is motivated and passionate
-Ability to work alongside a team
-Ability to multitask
-Open to feedback
-Ability to be a team player
-Reliable
-Able to meet deadlines