News
‘HIV/AIDS not death sentence’
HIV and AIDS advocates have reiterated calls for the public to offer support to people living with HIV in the communities to help them recover and live their normal lives.
They stressed that understanding the situations and conditions of affected persons would help reduce stigmatisation and discrimination in the society.
“Having HIV is not a death sentence. It’s not that they got infected through prostitution or make you are a prostitute.We need to reduce the stigma for people to come for the test and reduce the defaulting statistics.” Ms Dzid Enyonam Kwame, Media Specialist on the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) project said.
She made this observation at an engagement with queens and religious leaders at Takoradi in the Western Region, last Wednesday, to highlight the need for key stakeholders to act as agents of change in helping to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Ms Kwame described defaulters’ rates in treatment due to stigma and discrimination as worry, adding “We are trusting you to support us to achieve the targets”.
‘We can’t do it alone We need you leaders in our communities in achieving targets in Anti- Retro-viral Therapy (ART) support programmes.Together in our collective efforts, we can effect change in our communities.”She stated.
She advocated that discrimination at health facilities must also stop, saying “HIV stigmatisation hurts the well-being and health of people living with HIV and even prevents them from accessing treatments.”
HIV and AIDS Ambassador, Ms. Charity Owusu-Darko also said societal support to persons with the HIV and AIDS conditions was key in managing the disease and giving hope to affected individuals.
The disease condition, she claimed, could be compared with hypertension, diabetes and all other chronic diseases and called for proper management of cases to save the patients.
The ambassador said:” I have lived with HIV for the past nineteen years but because I have been constant on my drugs, I am still strong and going about my daily business. If I don’t disclose my health status, you will not know I have the disease.”
Ms. Owusu-Darko mentioned that stigma and discrimination against affected persons had not enabled society, families and religious groups to do their best in helping them to continue with their medication, and thereby worsening their conditions.
The Senior Social Mobilisation and Advocacy Advisor of USAID Strengthening the Care Continuum Project, Mr Benneh Diawuo, said the project hoped to reach lots of affected people by September this year, under the 95-95-95 targets.
The targets, he told the participants, hoped to get 95 per cent of people to know their statuses, be on drugs and have viral suppression.
Again, he said, the project target strategies included behavioural change through information and education and believed that the collaboration with queens who are key stakeholders would help reduce the HIV spread.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Takoradi
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has accepted an apology from the Minority leader in Parliament following allegations of corruption in the recruitment process of the security services.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he indicated that the accusations were painful because they portrayed his actions in a way that suggested criminal wrongdoing.
“It is painful to be wrongly accused or for your actions to be misconstrued and labelled differently from your intention, especially when it is linked with criminality and serious wrongdoing,” he stated.
Mr Mubarak noted that although he was deeply hurt and worried by the allegations, he had decided to accept the apology wholeheartedly.
According to him, the issue should guide members of the House and public officials to focus on ensuring that the right things are done without attempting to destroy one another.
He assured the Minority that the Interior Ministry and the various security service commanders remain committed to transparency and accountability in their work.
The Minister added that the ministry would be ready to address any concerns raised by the Minority or other members of Parliament regarding recruitment into the security services.
He further appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to consider expunging from the parliamentary records the false comments.
Mr Mubarak expressed appreciation to the Speaker for handling the matter and emphasised the need for cooperation among members of Parliament to ensure fairness and proper oversight.
By: Jacob Aggrey
THE Gospel Advocates (TGA), a non-denominational evangelistic Christian organisation last Saturday donated a number of educational logistics to the Dodi Asantekrom Basic School in the Eastern region of Ghana.
The gesture was to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation made up of professionals committed to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to students in senior high schools, particularly in rural communities.
TGA also seeks to inspire students towards attaining academic excellence and guiding them towards optimising the various learning opportunities and academic programmes available at the tertiary level.
Among the items donated were 100 desks, 10 cupboards, 10 desktop computers, two laptops, 10 teachers’ tables and chairs and others.
The group also held its annual outreach programme that had a significant impact in the community through initiatives such as feeding 500 children with hot meals and assorted drinks, providing free medical screening and drugs for 500 adults and youth and conducting health education and sensitisation for both children and adults.
TGA also took upon itself to restock the community clinic with essential medicines and distributed food items, plastic bowls, cups and clothing to members of the community.
The initiative, according to officials of the group, was supported by ORSAM Limited, Doctors Save Lives Foundation, Johnson Tord Foundation, El-Shaddai Mothercare, Exceed Alliance Limited, GB Foods Ghana Limited, Qualiplast Limited, Phyto-Riker (Gihoc) Pharmaceuticals Limited, Cosa Bright Ghana, Kabs Pharmacy, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, Pill Bay Pharmacy and Bamah 3.7.7.
“We are deeply grateful for their immense support and partnership in bringing hope, relief, and practical assistance to the people of Dodi Asantekrom,” the officials said.
In a statement, the President and Chairman of The Gospel Advocates, Mr. Selom Kpikpitse, said the donation to Dodi Asantekrom forms part of TGA’s broader mission to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ among students and youth in rural communities through teachings, music and arts.
He explained that the meals provided to over 500 pupils were in line with the organization’s annual “Feed the Kidz Project,” which demonstrates Christ’s love.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headmaster, Mr. Otumfour Newton, expressed gratitude to TGA and its sponsors, saying that “the items would significantly enhance teaching and learning while improving the overall welfare and development of the pupils.”
Mr. Newton also commended the team for the free medical screenings for adults and youth in the community, and other community engagements.
Medical supplies were also donated to the Dodi Asantekrom CHPS compound and received on behalf of the facility by Mr. Amefu, a Physician Assistant.
By Spectator Reporter
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