'I shared my coronavirus status to prevent stigma'

Zambia's Information Minister Dora Siliya says she publicly shared her Covid-19 test results to fight stigma associated with the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.

She told BBC's Newsday programme that she was afraid the stigma would impede the fight against the virus like it did for HIV in Zambia.

Ms Siliya said she felt that if her test results had leaked it would undermine the fight against stigma.

"I felt if I did not share my status in terms of the Covid, people will be treating this the same way they do with HIV."

The minister said some Zambians still don't believe Covid-19 is real.

She said behaviorial change has only been seen among the elite in the city, but those in rural areas still think coronavirus only affects those who travel abroad.

"There are people who still think it is a disease for those other people."