Lady Julia expresses concern about growing number of orphans

Mampong (Ash), Nov 26, GNA- Lady Julia Osei Tutu, wife of the Asantehene, has expressed concern about the growing number of AIDS orphans in the country as well as mothers transmitting the virus to their babies.

She has, therefore, advised pregnant mothers to go for voluntary HIV/AIDS tests to enable them to be given drugs if found infected with the disease so as to help reduce the risk of their unborn babies contracting the disease.

Lady Julia, who was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Asante-Mampong on Tuesday at a one-day sensitisation workshop on mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, said the test and administration of the drug would prolong the life span of pregnant mothers living with the disease.

The workshop was organised by Rural Youth Development Organisation (RYDO), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in collaboration with the Sekyere West District Assembly and the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

She called for the active involvement of communities in the fight against the disease since they know their problems better.

Dr Kofi Asare, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, appealed to traditional rulers to join the crusade against the HIV/AIDS menace.

Mr Thomas Edward Atakorah, the Sekyere West District Chief Executive, called for the integration of HIV/AIDS education in skills training for the youth.