More new cases of HIV/AIDS in Ghana

Wa, Aug 10, GNA – About 25, 000 new cases of HIV and AIDS have been recorded in Ghana, Dr. Richard Amenyah, Director of Technical Service at the Ghana AIDS Commission, has said.

He said as a result the increase the government had tasked the Ghana AIDS Commission and its key partners to work assiduously to help reduce the infection rate by half by the end of 2015.

Dr. Amenyah said President John Atta Mills had directed that no child should be allowed to be born with HIV and AIDS and all efforts must also be made to eliminate mother to child transmission of the virus.

He also directed that no child should be allowed to be an orphan as a result of his or her parents dying of the disease.

Dr. Amenyah was addressing stakeholders’ workshop on the dissemination of National HIV/AIDS Strategy Plan (SSP) for 2011- 2015 in Wa on Wednesday that seeks to achieve universal access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS services for Ghana.

The government has therefore provided 150 million Ghana cedis to support the implementation of the SSP to achieve universal HIV and AIDS service within the period.

Dr. Amenyah said about four percent of Ghanaian males and seven percent of females knew about their HIV and AIDS status.

He said about 116, 000 Ghanaians also needed treatment of the disease and called for more volunteer test on the disease.

Alhaji Issahaque Salia, the Upper West Regional Minister in a speech read on his behalf, said the development of the SSP reinforced the commitment of the government to draw up comprehensive and strategic programmes to help reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS.

He said even though national estimates of HIV and AIDS prevalence might be one of the lowest in the sub-region, there was still need to redouble efforts to reduce its spread.

Alhaji Salia expressed worries about increased infection through cross border activities and called on stakeholders to intensify education for responsible lifestyles and behaviour.

He said the pandemic in the region was characterized by gross stigmatisation and discrimination which had made it difficult for newly infected persons to seek medical care.

Such attitude does not support the call for proper care and treatment for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, Alhaji Salia said. GNA