Government to empower Ghana AIDS Commission

Accra, Jan. 21, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday announced that government would commit adequate resources towards the fight against HIV and AIDS and other diseases in the country. "In our new National Strategic Plan, we are focused on eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of the disease. We are also committed to educating the public against new infection of the disease." Vice President Mahama announced these when Miss Jean Beagle, Deputy Executive Director of United Nations AIDS Programme, called on him at the Castle, Osu to announce her impressions on HIV and AIDS programmes in the country's health facilities.

The Vice President said although Ghana had 1.9 per cent prevalence rate, one of the lowest on the African continent, government would continue to initiate programmes that would stem the spread of the disease in a few years. He promised to draw up comprehensive programmes in consultation with development partners to ensure that the incidence of HIV/AIDS was reduced to the barest minimum.

He gave the assurance that satellite hospitals would be constructed in the Metropolis to relieve the existing hospitals of the current congestions they experienced in the past years. Miss Beagle commended government for the number of interventions it had made towards the upkeep of persons living with HIV and AIDS and appealed fo= r more proactive programmes that would make the patients comfortable. "Ghana has done so well in taking care of the HIV and AIDS patience, but I want to appeal to government to intensify educational programmes on stigma and discrimination which are quite high in the country." In a related development, Vice President Mahama has commended the Britis= h government for its tremendous support to Ghana in the areas of the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority programme.

He also expressed happiness that the British government had initiated moves to establish a multi-purpose eye clinic in the national capital. Vice President Mahama made the commendation when Dr Nicholas Westcott, Out-going British High Commissioner to Ghana called on him to announce the end of his duty tour in the country. The Out-going High Commissioner who is taking up a European Union position for Africa in Brussels, Belgium, commended Ghana for the open debates on national issues, adding 93it helps in nation-building."