News
AfWOD urges tackling socio-economic barriers fuelling HIV spread
Ms Precious Hamidu, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Women Opportunities and Development (AfWOD), has called on the nation to tackle the socio-economic factors contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.
She said existing gender inequality, poverty, and limited HIV and AIDS education and inaccessible healthcare services in parts of the country remained key barriers that the nation needed to overcome to bring the spread of the diseases to the barest minimum.
“We must therefore empower women and girls, ensuring that they have the requisite knowledge and resources to protect themselves,” she stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani to commemorate the 2024 celebration of the World AIDS Day.
She highlighted the importance of continuous efforts to fight HIV and AIDS in the country by supporting people living with the virus to access medication and intensifying the public campaign against the disease for people to protect themselves from infections.
Each year, on December 1, the world commemorates World AIDS Day, instituted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) where people around the globe unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Ms Hamidu indicated that the country had made significant progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, saying reports from the Ghana AIDS Commission showed that the nation had witnessed a decline in new HIV infections, with an estimated 19,000 new cases in 2022, compared to 21,000 in 2021.
“Despite this progress, the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over,” she stated, saying the current statistic from the Ghana Health Services revealed that approximately 350,000 people were living with HIV in the country, with women accounting for 60 per cent.
Ms Hamidu indicated that the prevalence rate among adults aged 15-49 was estimated at 1.7 per cent, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
AfWOD remains committed to working with local communities, government agencies, and international partners to enhance HIV prevention and treatment programmes, she stated, saying her organisation also focused on reducing stigma and discrimination, which remain significant challenges for those living with HIV.
“Stigma and discrimination continue to hinder our efforts and we must therefore create an environment where everyone feels safe to seek testing and treatment without fear of judgment or social exclusion.” -GNA
Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has confirmed that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, is in prison and serving her jail term.
Speaking in an interview on Joy news, Mr. Muntaka dismissed claims that the former MASLOC boss was being held in a private location.
He said she has been in the custody of the state since she returned to Ghana.
“From the day Sedina came, she has been with us, and she’s serving her time,” he said.
The minister explained that the public is not usually told the specific prison where inmates, especially high-profile persons, are being held for security reasons.
He said even judges who sentence offenders do not necessarily know the specific prison where they are sent.
“If you want to visit her, you can write to the Prisons Service. They will talk to her, and if she is interested in you coming, she will let you come,” Mr. Muntaka stated.
According to him, disclosing the location of high-profile inmates could put their lives at risk, adding that some developed countries also keep such information confidential for security purposes.
His comments come amid public speculation over the whereabouts of Ms. Tamakloe Attionu following reports that she had returned to Ghana to begin serving her prison sentence.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Western Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO I Cecil Addo, has completed a familiarization tour of major corporate and industrial institutions across the Western Region to strengthen partnerships and enhance fire safety preparedness.
The tour covered key organizations including the Bank of Ghana, GOIL PLC, Ghanstock, Western Terminals, Zen Terminal, Keda Ceramics, Takoradi International Company (TICO), Volta River Authority (VRA), Harlequin Oil and Gas, and Western Serene Atlantic Hotel.
During the engagements, the Regional Commander encouraged management of the institutions to prioritize proactive fire prevention measures by incorporating strict safety protocols into their daily operations.
Discussions also focused on improving fire readiness and strengthening collaboration between GNFS and the corporate sector.
As part of the initiative, GNFS presented firefighting equipment, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguishers, as well as Fire Extinguishing Balls, to support workplace safety.
The institutions expressed appreciation for the outreach and pledged to support regular safety audits, joint emergency drills, and potential Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships with the Service.
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