Stakeholders in HIV/AIDS war should design appropriate programmes

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), June 14, GNA - Mr. Abdullai Haruna, Dormaa Municipal HIV/AIDS Focal Person, has urged actors, activists and change agents in the fight against HIV and AIDS to make their programmes culturally-friendly.

He made the call when he met Non-Governmental, Community-Based and Faith-Based organisations operating in the municipality as part of efforts to curb the spread of HIV and to give support to those living with it, as well as those affected by the pandemic.

The meeting was to find out how the organisations were sustaining their projects and beneficiaries following the suspension of the Multi-Sectorial HIV/AIDS Programme's (MSHAP) financial support early 2010.

He observed that nearly 100 per cent of awareness creation coverage on the disease had been attained nationwide but the same could not be said about strategies to enhance behavioural change and de-stigmatization against those living with it.

Mr. Haruna said with the focus now changing from awareness creation to the welfare and care for orphans and vulnerable persons, as well as persons living with the virus, organisations engaged in the fight have to devise more acceptable methods.

The methods should not only appeal to their clients but also provide the necessary tools for the achievement of set objectives towards minimizing the spread of the disease, he added.