Shortage of condoms hit Upper West

Wa, Sept. 4, GNA - Chemical sellers in the Upper West Region have run short of condoms because of high demand of condoms usage among the youth.

The situation has created worries for the youth who now want to use condoms to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Mr Michael Bayel, Wa Municipal Focal person for HIV/AIDS made this known at a day's workshop on infection control and procedures on HIV/AIDS in Wa.

He appealed to the National HIV/AIDS Commission and condoms manufacturing firms to make available condoms for the youth in the region.

"Condoms have become a hot commodity because of the protection they gave to active sexual practitioners and we must make sure they are available.." Mr Bayel said the prevalent of HIV/AIDS in the region stood at 5.8 per cent and expressed worry that the rate was likely to increase if the scarcity persisted.

Mr Abdul Aziz Mohammed, Wa Municipal Chief Executive said care and attitudinal change were the important weapons needed by Ghanaians to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

He called for the incorporation of attitudinal change lessons into the educational curriculum to sensitise the youth about the disease. He appealed to people in the municipality to volunteer to have HIV/AIDS test to know about their health status on the disease.

Mr Mohammed said HIV/AIDS has the potential to undermine government's efforts at building a formidable workforce to move the development of the country forward.

Madam Christine Choka Seidu, Executive Director of Sun-Bawiara Foundation, a local non-governmental organisation, said HIV/AIDS had taken a centre stage in all aspects of the socio-economic programmes and activities of the country.

She said for the past decade, the activities of government and non-governmental organisations had concentrated on basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Madam Seidu said little had been achieved in that direction of infection control and procedures. The Sung-Bawiara Foundation organised the forum with funds from M-SHARP through the Wa Municipal Assembly. Hairdressers, barbers, traditional birth attendants and "wanzams" attended the forum. They were taken through common sexually transmitted diseases and symptoms of HIV/AIDS as well as its prevention and control.