Civil service policy on HIV/AIDS to be formulated

Accra, Nov. 28, GNA- Dr. Alex Glover-Quartey, Head of the Civil Service on Thursday said a civil service policy on HIV/AIDS would soon be formulated to address the care and support for Civil servants who might be infected with HIV/AIDS.

He said measures that would help fight the spread of the dreadful disease within the Civil Service would also be put in place. Dr. Glover-Quartey was speaking at a day's seminar on HIV/AIDS organized for civil servants with the theme: "The effect of HIV/AIDS on productivity."

He said the epidemic has now become a global catastrophe, which knew no limits, and it was crucial for the civil service to join in the campaign against the disease.

"As head of the civil service, my concern for the health of the civil servants does not rest with only the 500 or so staff working under me at my office, indeed my concern is for the over 77,000 strong civil servants working through out the country" he said.

Dr. Glover-Quartey said HIV/AIDS posed a threat to the health, welfare, security and general development of the human resource of the Service.

"HIV/AIDS has far-reaching devastating effects on our resources. It has moved from a stage of being a mere health issue intertwined with social responsibilities, to a looming economic disaster, which is slowly but surely creeping in and destroying the workforce of nations worldwide" he said.

He advised the civil servants to go for HIV/AIDS test voluntarily to enable them to know their status and know how to lead fruitful lives.

"It is only when you know your status that you could take advantage of the provisions that would be made for HIV positive workers" he added.

He advised civil servants to change their behaviours adding, "I would rather ask you to concentrate on being faithful to your partners or if you dare to be a bit adventurous, use a condom."

The civil servants were taken through topics like "Anatomy and psychology of the male and female reproductive system and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).