Intensify HIV/AIDS education campaign - Dr Normeshie called

Asamankese (E/R), Nov. 9, GNA - Dr Anthony Normeshie, Executive Director of Health for All Herbal Clinic at Oworam near Asamankese in the Eastern Region, has stressed the need to intensify the education on HIV/AIDS countrywide.

He said that was in line with the five-year nationwide strategic plan drawn up by the Ghana AIDS Commission to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by 2015. At a press briefing at Oworam, Dr Normeshie, who is also a member of the Ghana AIDS Commission, said Ghana has a low HIV prevalence rate of 1.9 per cent but said: "The efforts for fighting the epidemic need to be sustained and scaled up."

Reflecting on the theme for this year's World AIDS Day: "Universal Access and Human Rights - Action Now", Dr Normeshie said, there was the need to fight stigmatization of persons living with HIV/AIDS. He also said there should be regular tests to know one's status and also a national policy to allow potential traditional medicine to be used by those who were not on anti-retroviral.