Ghanaians asked to be conscious of their HIV status

Dr Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mission of Hope Society, a health centered non-governmental organization has entreated Ghanaians to be conscious about their HIV status.

He reminded with emphasis that HIV/AIDS had no social class and getting infected was not an accident but a choice.

Dr Benarkuu gave the advice at a durbar to mark the Tain District celebration of the World HIV Day at Nsawkaw in the Brong-Ahafo region, organized by the NGO.

The 2015 celebration is on the theme “Fast track: meeting the health needs of children towards HIV-free generation”.

Dr Benarkuu observed that scientific advances had been made in HIV prevention and treatment, adding, the best method to avoid being infected is for one to know his or her status.

He indicated that because of the devastating effects of the disease in society, there was the need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve HIV/AIDS education.

Dr Benarkuu expressed concern about the continuous stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS, which according to him was a major contributory factor to the spread of the disease.

He observed that because of the societal myths and the stigma attached to the disease, many people were afraid to check their status, while those who were infected also felt shy to go for medication.

Dr Benarkuu identified inconsistent supply of drugs and commodities as well as inadequate facilities for effective HIV services as some of the major challenges confronting the fight of the disease in the country.

According to him, the goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030 could only be achieved, if the social, economic and spiritual needs of women, children and the youth are well catered for.

Dr Benarkuu reiterated the need for the government to invest more into capacity building and support the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to implement the new World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to step up the pace for HIV prevention, care and treatment in children and adolescents.

It is also recommendable that the government would support the GHS to develop the acceleration plan for pediatric services in the country, he added.

Mr Jones Tawiah, the Tain District Chief Executive, in a speech read for him, said the government would continue to ensure the expansion in infrastructure especially in health provision.

He pointed out that the district had benefited from one of the 70 bed capacity ultra-modern hospitals in the country, indicating works on the project are steadily progressing.

On completion, the facility would serve the people of Tain, Wenchi and Jaman North Districts, he said.

Mr Tawiah reiterated that HIV/AIDS was rife in the area, and cautioned teenagers against unprotected sex.