AIDS patients says NGOs are cheating them

Tema, April 12, GNA - The Bread of Life and Deliverance Association (BLDA), made up of people living with AIDS in Tema, on Thursday called on the Ghana AIDS Commission to investigate the background of the NGOs managing AIDS patients and monitor them to ensure that funds meant for AIDS patients are used judiciously.

The members complained that these NGOs do not look after them as expected and that people hide behind these NGOs to collect funds meant for them for their own personal gains.

"We only get monthly supply of one "Olonka of rice, a beer bottle of cooking oil, some beans, tom brown and our drugs with little counselling and that is all we get from them". The patients, numbering about 43 including couples who spoke in turns, declined to mention those NGOs involved and said they felt reluctant going to them "because it is rather costly, waste of time and energy".

They said on their normal hospital visits to the Tema Polyclinic, they heard of a Congolese, Prophet Matel Cracia, in-charge of the Apostolic Mission International (AMI), who caters for AIDS patients free of charge.

"Ever since we came into contact with the prophet we have been extra healthy because he takes care of us and settles our bills for the drugs together with effective counselling that has sustained us until now".

They said due to stigmatisation they do not inform people when doctors break the news of their status to them. A man said he got the virus from his wife but they have separated and she has gone for another man who has made her pregnant. Another male victim believes that abstinence is most appropriate to prevent contracting the virus since condom could fail. The patients appealed to the government to consider their plight and release some funds to them to start businesses for a living as they cannot continue to depend on the benevolence of the prophet. Prophet Cracia said he went into the practice about six years ago supporting the needy, poor and deprived people in the community and spent much time on counselling to encourage the victims go about with their normal lives.

He said he has 43 people living with AIDS whom he is supporting as well as some pupils in schools at Tema Communities Two and Four. Asked how he gets money he said, "the Lord is in control and I will continue until the last breadth of my life". Prophet Cracia said he has acquired land in Tema where he could operate and appealed to well meaning people for support to make his dream become a reality.

He said the authorities of the Tema Polyclinic have declared their intention to take over the temporal office he is occupying.