We cannot afford Retroviral drugs - HIV/AIDS Patient
Takoradi, Dec 2, GNA - Mr Charles Aikins, a Member of the Wisdom Association made up of HIV/AIDS patients, has appealed to the government to supply Anti-Retroviral Drugs free of charge to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), in the country. He made the appeal at the Takoradi Polytechnic Park during this year's National Celebration of World AIDS Day, at Takoradi.
Members of the Association are undertaking small-scale income generating ventures.
Mr Aikins, said most of the victims were unemployed due to the effects of the disease, adding, "Many of us cannot even afford traditional medicines which are relatively cheaper."
He said that people with the disease should get the right treatment, affordable housing and care, good food and employment to improve their self-esteem and integrate them into the society.
Mr. Aikins said discrimination and stigmatisation against PLWHA could be stopped if Ghanaians accepted and supported them.
"If this is not done many people living with the HIV/AIDS will not declare their status but keep on infecting others with it," he said.
Dozens queue to check HIV status
Aflao, Dec 2, GNA - A Voluntary Counselling and Testing team (VCT) for HIV/AIDS from the Ketu District Hospital, was overwhelmed by scores of people who wanted to know their HIV status after a durbar organised by the GPRTU at Aflao.The Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) sponsored the VCT that was free. The queue was still long as at sundown when the team closed with a promise to return at a later date
Dr Michael Ahedor, District Director of Health, urged people to stop stigmatising and discriminating against people with the disease.
He said such stigmatisation that sent the infected underground could be the major cause of the increasing infection rate in the country.
Dr Ahedor said millions of people are dying of the disease daily with sub-Sahara Africa being the hardest hit.
Sekondi-Takoradi Residents patronise voluntary HIV testing
Takoradi, Dec 2, GNA - Forty-eight people including 10 women took voluntary HIV/AIDS test launched by the West African AIDS Foundation at the Takoradi Polytechnic Park to mark World AIDS Day on Monday.Those who were tested positive were referred to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Mr Eddie Dane Donton, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, told the GNA, on Tuesday. He said the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), which was introduced in the country by the Foundation, is a new and the best behavioural change model designed to make people aware of their HIV/AIDS status.
Mr Donton said when the disease was detected early modern retroviral drugs could be used to prolong the life of the victim.
He said 620 people have so far undertaken the Foundation's VCT, adding that, branches of the foundation would be opened in parts of the country to offer its services to people.
