Eastern Region to get 25 ART centres by 2012

Koforidua, July 12,GNA- National AIDS Control Programme’s(NACP) Eastern Regional Focal Person, Dr Sampson Ofori, says the region would have 25 Anti Retroviral Therapy(ART) centres by end 2012 to ensure the maximum travel time of an hour for People Living With HIV (PLWH) to access medication.

He said already there were 20 ART centres in the region and plans were far advanced for the construction of five more centres at the Afram Plains, Kwahu East, Kwaebibirim, Akyemmansa and Birim South Districts.

Dr Ofori disclosed this when the Eastern Regional Aids Committee met with the Joint Assessment Team of the Country’s National Strategic Plan on HIV control prepared by the Ghana Aids Commission (GAC).

The Joint Assessment team is made up of some representatives of international organizations including some members of GAC who are holding meetings with stakeholders to harp on the strategic plan.

Dr Ofori said some of the ART centres had employed PLWH as “Mothers of Hope” to counsel their colleagues to follow their drug regime.

He said sometimes, members of the “Mothers of Hope” convince their colleagues who had resorted to herbal and spiritual centres to take their drugs.

Mr Kwame Oppong Ntim, former Eastern Regional Focal Person on HIV, said GAC under the strategic plan had agreed to establish regional and district secretariats with permanent offices to ensure consistency in personnel and in the implementation of programmes.

He observed that despite several successes achieved by the region, the area was being challenged by low usage of condoms and the springing up of many illegal small-scale mining sites which attracted large numbers of foreigners and commercial sex workers.

Later, members of the Joint Assessment Team paid a courtesy call on the Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Kwesi Akyem Apea-Kubi.