It also marginalizes people at risk and living with the disease contributing further to their social isolation and rejection."
The World Bank says in countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan the stigma attached to HIV and AIDs is hampering prevention, treatment, and care of HIV and AIDS patients.
A study in India has found that 34 percent of students, faculty, and technical staff of the public health services would not associate with people living with HIV and AIDS.
The World Bank is offering grants for charities and community organizations to develop "imaginative approaches that will help change the attitudes and practices that undermine effective programs.
It is looking for small-scale local projects which could later be scaled up and replicated. The best projects would be select