Ariz. Student Receives Journalism Award for Shedding Light on HIV in Yucatán
Jair Avalos López, a student at Arizona State University, received the National Health Journalism Award, highlighting the importance of improving the health system and strengthening HIV care in Yucatán and throughout the country.
Yucatán has had one of Mexico’s highest HIV rates. Since 1983, 12,000 cases have been reported. The true number is generally believed to be much higher.
To raise awareness about the HIV problem in Yucatán and improve the quality of life of those affected, as well as reduce the stigma associated with the disease, Avalos wrote the report “The Silence of HIV in Yucatán,” first-place winner in the 2024 National Health Journalism Award. The report was produced within the Symbiosis program, an initiative of Gatopardo magazine and Arizona State.
Symbiosis is a journalism training program that supports the production of narrative journalism committed to the region’s challenges. Its first edition in 2022 included a series of public talks with experts such as Yasnaya E. Gil, Fernanda Santos, Vann R. Newkirk II, Kathy Corcoran, and Eileen Truax, an interactive workshop taught by Lela Corman, and in-situ residencies in Mérida.
Jair Avalos, a journalist from Veracruz and a participant in the workshop and residencies, addressed the problem of stigmatization and silence surrounding people living with HIV in Yucatán. Through testimonials and analysis, his report explores how the fear of rejection and discrimination prevents many people from seeking timely diagnosis and treatment, which worsens the public health situation in the region.
The investigation highlights patients’ cultural and social barriers and the health system’s deficiencies that hinder access to adequate services. It also mentions the work of some organizations and activists fighting to raise awareness and support people with HIV, attempting to break the cycle of silence and stigma.
Social stigma is one of the main obstacles to recognizing and addressing the needs of people with HIV. They often face rejection and discrimination, making it difficult to seek help and speak openly about their condition. This atmosphere of fear and silence perpetuates the invisibility of the problem and worsens the public health situation.
A report by the National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS (Censida) indicates that approximately 40% of people with HIV in Mexico have experienced discrimination at some point. Likewise, the 2022 National Discrimination Survey estimates that 14.6% of the population over 18 would not hire a person living with HIV/AIDS, and 47.7% would not agree with their children marrying someone who acquired the virus.
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