AIDS patients calls for voluntary testing

Tarkwa, Dec 02, GNA - Mr Sam Evans, an HIV positive patient, has called on the public not to go in for voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to enable every individual to know his or her HIV status. Mr Evans, who is the President of the Western Region Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), said knowing one's status would influence the type of life one would lead.

The 54-year-old HIV positive patient said this on Friday when addressing a gathering as part of World AIDS Day celebration at Tarkwa. Preceding the address was a brass band procession through some streets of Tarkwa.

The participants, made up of mainly apprentices, students and school children carried placards, some which read, "HIV/AIDS is real" and " Embrace HIV/AIDS patients, No Stigmatisation". Mr Evans, a father of five, said though there was hope for HIV/AIDS patients that did not give one license to lead a reckless life. "There a is lot of psychological problems associated with the virus." He called on those who have contracted the virus not to intentionally spread it and pleaded with institutions not to sack people with the virus.

Dr Ebenezer Acquah, Wassa West District Director of Health Services, told the students not to lay emphasis on the use of condoms because it could burst.