Ghana spends about C40 billion annually on AIDS patients

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister has stated that estimates from the Ministry of Health (MOH) indicates that about 40 billion cedis is spent annually on the maintenance of AIDS patients in the country.

He pointed out that the sad aspect of it was that reports has revealed that 200 people on the average get infected daily with the AIDS menace.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Michael Opoku-Nkansah, Deputy Director of Administration of the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) at the opening of a Training of Trainers Workshop on Effective Communication on HIV/AIDS Virus and the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's) in Kumasi on Monday.

The five-day workshop organised by Families Together, Ghana (FTG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) is being attended by 59 District Response Initiative (DRI) members from sub-Metropolitan and District Councils of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and other District Assemblies in Ashanti.

Mr Boafo said the implication would be the raising of funds since funds for the provision of other critical health cases will be diverted to cure AIDS patients.

He said "Education must be vigorous, sustained and must involve all social organisations and groups in the society in the fight against the disease which has not known any cure."

Dr Peter Preko, Physician at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and a representative from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) said the Commission was creating enabling environment for National and District Responsive Initiative to fight the scourge.

He said it was time parents and society realised that they were responsible for what the youth should do at home to ensure the proper and positive development of the country.

Reverend Ammisshaddai Dei-Awuku, President of the organisation said it was concerned about the cohesive development of families observing that the NGO has involved itself in the education of AIDS because the campaign is not related to where the problem originates.

He said there was the need for parents and families to talk to children on the AIDS/HIV Virus because if they fail to do that, the Television, peers billboards, and Radio will not adequately send the correct message to the youth.