“KNOW-YOUR-STATUS” CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AT GAMBAGA September 01, 2008.
A meeting has been held under the auspices of the District Health Management Team, DHMT at Gambaga in the East Mamprusi District to launch an HIV/AIDS campaign christened “Know – your – status”.
In her welcome address, a Deputy Director of Nursing Madam Paulina Manlokiya said it is beneficial for one to know his/her HIV status for through data collected based on VCT records, government will be able to adequately provide for the drug needs of HIV/AIDS patients.
Madam Manlokiya said the “know – your – status “ campaign will go a long way to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS after the VCT sessions because it is hoped that people will change their sexual lives positively.
The head of the BMC Public Health Department, Mrs. Florence Baba told participants at the meeting that the “know – your – status” campaign was a national programme by government through the Ghana Health Service for planning purposes and necessary actions to be taken to check the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS.
Mrs. Baba said all should take advantage of the launch to test free of charge to ascertain their HIV/AIDS status adding that after the launching period, a person would be required to pay GH¢ 0.50 pesewas to undergo VCT at the health facilities. She said there are efficacious drugs at the health facilities to manage HIV/AIDS conditions and that people should not be afraid to know their status. Eleven VCT counselors will be involved in the programme.
She disclosed that the Ghana Demographic Health Survey in 2007 stated that the national prevalence rate was 1.9%. The survey held that 264,481 people had contracted HIV/AIDS during 2007. Of the number, 153,813 were females.
Mrs. Baba said the survey also revealed that the Eastern Region was hardest hit. Meanwhile, Central region also had a high incidence of syphilis, an STI. She urged people to also test to know their hepatitis B status saying it is an equally deadly disease whose prevalence is rising steadily among Ghanaians.
Participants during an open form, cited poverty, homosexualism and streetism as some factors that lead to rise in HIV/AIDS. They suggested re-introduction of moral education in schools, formation of civic education clubs in schools and abolition of outmoded tradition for example. widow inheritance as means of stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ghana.
Remarks:Also published on www.ghana.gov.gh
In her welcome address, a Deputy Director of Nursing Madam Paulina Manlokiya said it is beneficial for one to know his/her HIV status for through data collected based on VCT records, government will be able to adequately provide for the drug needs of HIV/AIDS patients.
Madam Manlokiya said the “know – your – status “ campaign will go a long way to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS after the VCT sessions because it is hoped that people will change their sexual lives positively.
The head of the BMC Public Health Department, Mrs. Florence Baba told participants at the meeting that the “know – your – status” campaign was a national programme by government through the Ghana Health Service for planning purposes and necessary actions to be taken to check the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS.
Mrs. Baba said all should take advantage of the launch to test free of charge to ascertain their HIV/AIDS status adding that after the launching period, a person would be required to pay GH¢ 0.50 pesewas to undergo VCT at the health facilities. She said there are efficacious drugs at the health facilities to manage HIV/AIDS conditions and that people should not be afraid to know their status. Eleven VCT counselors will be involved in the programme.
She disclosed that the Ghana Demographic Health Survey in 2007 stated that the national prevalence rate was 1.9%. The survey held that 264,481 people had contracted HIV/AIDS during 2007. Of the number, 153,813 were females.
Mrs. Baba said the survey also revealed that the Eastern Region was hardest hit. Meanwhile, Central region also had a high incidence of syphilis, an STI. She urged people to also test to know their hepatitis B status saying it is an equally deadly disease whose prevalence is rising steadily among Ghanaians.
Participants during an open form, cited poverty, homosexualism and streetism as some factors that lead to rise in HIV/AIDS. They suggested re-introduction of moral education in schools, formation of civic education clubs in schools and abolition of outmoded tradition for example. widow inheritance as means of stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ghana.
Remarks:Also published on www.ghana.gov.gh
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