Koforidua, July 19, GNA - The Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of the National AIDS Control Programme, Dr Sampson Ofori, had observed that the HIV/AIDS disease would be staying with human society for a long time to come and therefore, called on all to brace themselves up to face the challenges posed by the disease. Dr Ofori, who was reacting to an accusation from some People Living With the HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) that, some health workers had been discriminating against them said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) was aware and so had started a training programme for health staff. He said so far, over 170 health staff had been retrained to
enable them to overcome the problem of stigmatisation and
discrimination, when it came to the handling and treatment of
patients suffering form the disease. Dr Ofori was speaking at a one-day workshop on the proper
formation and functioning of PLWHA associations and support
groups in the Eastern Region in Koforidua on Tuesday. The workshop, which was organized by the Eastern
Regional Co-ordinating Council (ERCC) with support from the
Multi-Sectoral AIDS Programme (MSHAP), was attended by
PLWHAs, District Focal Persons, District HIV/AIDS
Co-ordinators, representatives of HIV/AIDS support groups and
members of the Eastern Regional HIV/AIDS Committee. Dr Ofori reminded them that the disease was not a
respecter of persons, saying, "all manner of people are dying
from the disease including health staff." He advised HIV/AIDS patients on drugs to avoid defaulting
in taking their prescriptions, explaining that, such neglect made
the virus to develop resistance to the drugs, which would make
the future control of the disease very difficult. Dr Ofori explained that it was not all people suffering from
the disease that had to be placed on the anti-retroviral drugs,
because for one to be on the drug, the resistance cells of the
fellow should not be below level 250. He explained that one of the important requirements for
placing an HIV/AIDS patient on the anti-retroviral drug was for
the patient to have a monitor, who could support the patient
when he or she became weak after the taking of the drug.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Susana Mensah,
called on PLWHAs not to feel disgraced but brace themselves
up to live positive lives to stay longer and take good care of their
children. She said the constitution of the country did not allow
anybody to be discriminated against and that all citizens of the
country had equal rights. The PLWHAs were therefore urged to come together to
fight against stigmatisation and discrimination in any form. Ms Mensah described HIV/AIDS as "just like any other
disease", saying, there were diseases, which were killing people
faster and more than HIV/AIDS and therefore, if such people
could openly talk about the disease they were suffering from,
then it should be possible for HIV/AIDS patients to also openly
talk about their disease to stop the discrimination and
stigmatisation against them. The Eastern Regional Director of Medical Service, Dr
Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyirah, advised PLWHAs to be
courageous and pursue economic activities, which would help
them improve upon their financial situations to enable them take
good care of themselves. He advised them to register with the National Health
Insurance Schemes to enable them take advantage of the
financial support offered by the schemes. The Eastern Regional Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Ms Golda
Asante, advised PLWHA to form associations to enable them
benefit from the various support programmes and explained that
most of the organization supporting the PLWHAs prefer to deal
with groups than individuals.
