Address gender imbalance to curb HIV/AIDS-Dr Amenyah

Akropong, Dec.6, GNA- Dr Richard Amenyah, the Director of Technical Services of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), has observed that unless gender imbalance was addressed, the fight against HIV/ AIDS would not achieve the desired results. He said even though women were vulnerable to contracting the disease than men, women had no right to sexuality, which was the major source of infection.

Dr. Ameyah was addressing a day's workshop on HIV/AIDS, organized by Progress Foundation, a non- governmental organization for media practitioners in the Eastern region, at Akropong on Tuesday. He called for the elimination of customs and traditions that militated against the rights of women towards the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He expressed worry that even though the GAC had recommended the use of condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS, women had no right to compel their male counterparts wear condoms.

Dr Amenyah said whiles the national AIDS prevalence rate was 2.5 per cent, the rate of pregnant women was 3.2 percent. Mrs Abena Asimeh, national Coordinator of Habitat Focal Point, observed that women and children with HIV/AIDS suffered stigmatization and rejection from their husbands and families but men with the disease enjoyed their rights as husbands and heads of family because they were considered superior.

He called on the GAC and other organizations fighting against AIDS/AIDS to make female condoms more accessible. The assistant focal person from the Ministry of Women and Children, Nii Amarh Ashitey said the Ministry was working towards the empowerment of women to enable them to insist on their rights. He said the Ministry had planned to organise seminars and workshops throughout the country, especially in remote communities where women suffered discrimination most.

Two persons living with HIV/AIDS, who narrated how they suffered discrimination and rejection from society and their families, appealed to the media educate people on HIV/AIDS. 6 Dec. 07