Govt to embark on free testing of HIV/AIDS next year

The government will, from next year, embark on a free voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS throughout the country to assist people to know their HIV status.

Mr David Kwasi Amankwaah, the Adansi East District Director of Health Services, said knowing one's HIV status will enable people to know how to conduct themselves.

Speaking at an HIV/AIDS durbar organised by the District Health management Team (DHMT) in collaboration with the district assembly at Praso, Mr. Amankwaah said the district recorded 129 AIDS cases from 2001 to date.

He said in 2001 out of 109 people who took the HIV/AIDS test 44 tested positive, while in 2002, 43 out of 202 people who underwent the test proved positive.

Mr. Amankwaah said out of 218 people, who did the test as at the end of November 42 tested positive. These figures, he said, represented only the few who were tested.

It is likely, he said, that there are more people living with the disease in the district who either do not know or know but are hiding it from the public.

Mr Francis Owusu-Ansah, the deputy District Co-ordinating Director, appealed to chiefs to support the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign in their communities.