Research into pain associated with specific illnesses shows that the pain related to HIV and AIDS is even more severe than that associated with cancer, and yet AIDS is generally not acknowledged or managed as a painful disease.

At an Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)-funded workshop presented by Dr Natalya Dinat of the Centre of Excellence on Palliative Care, Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital, women from 13 southern African countries were encouraged to tackle the issue of pain with their service providers – and to demand that their pain be taken seriously.

The women were asked to list the pain they experience as part of living with HIV. While the women’s experiences were varying, most had extensive lists and some experienced debilitating pain.

Dr Dinat confirmed that, despite this pain, they do not have the symptoms properly managed and are expected to live with the pain and ‘get on with it’.