Minister speaks against detention of patients at prayer camps

Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - The Founder of Alexus Life Opportunity Foundation, a non- profit organisation on Wednesday, spoke against the detention of patients suffering from infectious diseases in prayer camps, saying it poses a public health risk.

Reverend Hubamoulda Alexus Jehu-Appiah, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, said although he is not sceptical about the ability of God to heal the sick, keeping patients in such camps affect their well being and lead to the spread of their ailments. He called on the clergy to be proactive in the fight against the stigma attached to People Living with HIV/AIDS, (PLWHAs) as well as Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infection patients . Rev Jehu-Appiah said due to the stigma that is often related to superstition, most people refuse to disclose their status to family members, friends or seek medical support.

He said the Gomoa West-based foundation, in the Central Region, caters for 45 PLWAS who are often educated on home based care and appealed to private and public-spirited organisations to come to the aid of the body to be able cater for them.

Rev James Ackon President of People United against AIDS, a Cape Coast- based organisation also asked the clergy to support PLWHAs, "since they are part of their flock".

Speaking to the GNA he also expressed dissatisfaction about the keeping of PLWHAs and other sick people, in prayer camps, who he said are often denied their medication.

Rev Ackon whose organisation caters for 72 PLWHAs in the Metropolis is also the Regional Chairman of Network of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, which focuses on the education of the clergy to help arrest the pandemic.

He said the network hopes to establish a local component of International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected By HIV and AIDS (INERELA).

The body would be known as Ghana Rela. INERELA envisions a world where HIV/AIDS related stigma infections and deaths are eliminated. The organisation, establishes strong and effective national networks of religious leaders, supports faith community responses to HIV/AIDS and carries out advocacy and capacity building on the pandemic.