HIV and AIDS are still a priority - Dr. Arnolds

Accra, Sept. 1, GNA - Dr. Wendy Arnolds, President of Peer Education Programme (PEP) of Los Angeles, on Wednesday urged the international community to continue to prioritise issues on HIV and AIDS.

She noted that it seemed the international community was apathetic towards HIV and AIDS however, in some parts of the world people were being infected with HIV and AIDS every six seconds.

PEP is a non-profit organisation that trains youth, especially teenagers to talk to their peers about HIV and AIDS prevention.

Dr. Arnolds is currently training selected officers of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and some staff of West African AIDS Foundation in Accra on HIV and AIDS prevention through peer education.

The programme is being supported by the United States Department of State and US Embassy in Ghana.

In an interview with the GNA, she expressed the hope that the participants in Ghana would educate their peers in the churches, public places and reach out to more people.

"HIV and AIDS is a disease, not a disgrace", she said and was optimistic society would improve the care, compassion and hope of people who live with HIV and AIDS.

Dr. Jane Ansah, HIV and AIDS Coordinator for GAF, said her outfit begun peer education programme in 2000 and had led to the reduction of HIV infection.

She said the programme had assisted the soldiers, because they operated in an environment that put them at risk and educating them periodically on HIV and AIDS in small groups was helpful.

Dr. Ansah said soldiers who benefited from the training programme became role models and called for more of such support.