U.S.A team in Ghana for HIV/AIDS campaign

Gomaoa Potsin (C/R), Feb 9, GNA- A five-member team of Safe Haven Project, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), from the U.S A, is in Ghana to undertake a HIV/AIDS education campaign. The team was invited by Central Regional AIDS Committee and Charles Aikins' Live and Let's Live Foundation, a local NGO, to help intensify and complement efforts being made by local organisations to prevent the spread of the disease.

Mr Ishmael Nana Ogyafo, Central Regional HIV/AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person, led the team to the T.I Ahamadiyya Senior High School at Gomoa Potsin on Saturday.

He said the Committee and the Foundation decided to invite foreigners living with the disease to use their personal experiences and testimonies to promote the fight against the disease in the region. Mr Ogyafo said the team which was in the region last year for the same mission, would visit schools, Churches and communities to educate the people on the disease. Ms Diana Baberee, a Ghanaian living with the disease, who accompanied the team, appealed to people with HIV/AIDS to disclose their status to enable them get support from, individuals, organisations and government..

She said she was infected with HIV virus by the husband more than 10 years now but she was still strong because she disclosed her status, which enabled her to receive a lot of assistance Ms Baberee said medication for people living with HIV/AIDS was expensive and could not be afforded by them alone, adding " I know with support from. Sympathizers I will live and take care of my grand children before I die."

Reverend Edward Burks, a member of the team, who looked strong and healthy, and had the disease 24 now, said he was infested before becoming a minister of the gospel. He advised the students and the youth to abstain from pre-marital sex and concentrate on their studies. Ms Chelsea Gulden, also a member of the team with HIV virus, advised pregnant women to undergo HIV/AIDS voluntary counselling and testing to determine their status to enable health authorities prevent babies from contracting the disease.

She advised people living with the disease to eat balanced diet to boost their immune system. Mr Mohammed Ackonu, headmaster of the school, expressed gratitude to the Safe Human Project and their sponsors for selecting the school for the education programme and said the school authorities would work hard to sustain the exercise. Other places the team carried out the campaign, included the Komenda Teacher Training College in the Komenda Edina-Eguafo-Abirem District.