Madam Joyce Kusi, a Representative of Civil Society Organizations on the AIDS Committee of Okaikwei North Municipality has expressed worry over the seeming neglect of the disease.
She believes the attention of governments’ the world over has been on the Corona Virus pandemic to the detriment of HIV/AIDS issues.
Madam Kusi explained that AIDS which has also been declared as a pandemic like COVID- 19 is on the rise in the country, the very reason attention must not be lost on the former.
According to Ghana’s HIV Fact Sheet 2019, there are a total of 342,307 persons living with the disease comprising 122,321 Males and 219,986 Females.
However, speaking to The Ghanaian Publisher on the sidelines of the commemoration of the World AIDS Day in Accra, Madam Kusi said “AIDS is on the rise, it is also a pandemic but COVID has taken over….As much as we are working towards COVID; we should not forget about AIDS.”
Linda Donkor, HIV Focal Person at the Achimota ART Clinic stated that there is the need for more community education and engagements on the disease.
She said the hospital records 20 new AIDS cases monthly indicating that AIDS is real and urged all to use the condoms.
In all some 24 health officers from the Health Directorate of the Assembly in collaboration with the Achimota Hospital and the Ghana Aids Commission marked the day on the theme: “End Inequalities End AIDS, End pandemics.”
Celebrated in three centers within the Municipality- Christian Village, Achimota Hospital and Akweteman Township, the day coincided with a health screening exercise with over 500 residents benefiting from HIV tests, malaria test, Blood Pressure (BP) and Syphilis tests.
The participants were also counselled on heathy lifestyle in order to avoid diseases.
Source: By Kofi Yirenkyi
