Veep calls for concerted efforts to fight HIV and AIDS

Takoradi, Dec. 1, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednes= day directed Ministers of State and District Chief Executives to factor in HI= V and AIDS programmes in their annual educational pursuits to promote the National HIV Strategic Plan.

"The new National Strategic Plan is a framework aimed at reducing th= e incidence and infection rate of HIV and AIDS to the lowest and I believe the Ministers and District Chief Executives have vital roles to play for its success," he stressed. Vice President Mahama gave the directive when he launched this year'= s World AIDS Day in Takoradi on the theme: "Universal Access and Human Righ= ts: Action Now."

The plan among other interventions will seek to drastically reduce t= he mother to child HIV and AIDS and the spread of the pandemic through vibra= nt and vigorous educational programmes. Vice President Mahama appealed to leaders of the various political parties to include HIV and AIDS programmes into their political campaigns= to register massive change in behavior and attitude. "HIV and AIDS has not got political or religious boundaries and I therefore want to appeal to. politicians and religious leaders to see it as a threat to society and should therefore be eliminated through collective=

efforts." He asked service providers to step up their educational programmes b= y introducing innovations that would help reduce the transmission of the disease and make Ghanaians conscious of their health needs. "I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) for their dedication that has reduced the incidence of t= he disease. to put (Ghana) among the lowest (infested) African countries. "There is more to be done to make Ghana an HIV and AIDS free country= in the next few years."

Dr Angela El-Adas, Director General of GAC said the commission settl= ed on the Western Region for the annual celebration, because of the oil find=

which was likely to change social activities in the area. "We are so much aware that with the oil find there will be high infl= ux of business, increase in population density, vibrant sexual activity and so strategically the celebration here (Takoradi) will make a lot of people conscious of the disease." She said the GAC in partnership with donor organisations had come ou= t with a National Strategic Plan to halve new infections from 2011-2015 and=

there was the need for health providers to continue to give out the best services to achieve their targets. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Regional Minister called for collective respons= e from politicians, social organisations and health providers, to fight the=

disease head-on throughout the country. He called on the 10 regional co-ordinating councils to continue with=

their in-house educational and sensitisation programmes as a way of reduc= ing and preventing new infections. The GAC donated 10 computers and accessories to their Regional office= to facilitate their supervisory role.