Every December 1, the world commemorates World Aids day.

This year, South Africa will focus on zero discrimination, without losing sight of the other ‘zeroes’. Namely, zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS related deaths.

The aim of this campaign is to ensure that the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS are not violated, and that discrimination on the basis of HIV, AIDS and TB is reduced, and ultimately eliminated.

Stigma and discrimination can be as devastating as the illness itself and may mean abandonment by a partner or family, social exclusion, job and property loss, school expulsion, denial of medical services, lack of care and support, and violence for those affected by them.

These consequences, or fear of them, mean that people are less likely to come in for HIV testing, disclose their HIV status to others, adopt HIV preventive behaviour or access treatment, care and support.

Watch Charlie Sheen announcing his HIV status here: