Don't relent on HIV/AIDS education - First Lady

Tamale, Nov. 10, GNA - The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, has cautioned Ghanaians not to be complacent about the "little progress" the country has made in the fight against HIV/AIDS by reducing the prevalence rate.

She said despite the reduction, there was the need to intensify the campaign against the disease and urged stakeholders, especially religious leaders, to educate the people its dangers and how to prevent it.

Mrs Kufuor, who is also the life patron of the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), was addressing an open forum on HIV/AIDS sensitisation programme in Tamale on Thursday. The Forum was on the theme: "Treat each child as your own - Let's wage war against HIV/AIDS".

The First Lady said current data on the percentage of the disease could be misleading since it covered only those who had voluntarily gone for testing, adding that a lot more people could be living with the disease but unaware about their status.

She urged society, especially parents, not to stigmatise people living with HIV/AIDS, but they should rather treat them with compassion and care saying. "AIDS is just like any other disease, and like cancer or diabetes, we are all at risk at contracting it".

Mrs Kufuor advised the youth, whom she described as "the future leaders of the country", to shun pre-marital sex to avoid contracting the disease. They should educate themselves properly to make informed choices for their future progress.

She urged men to give women the necessary encouragement and support to be able to be financially strong to help take care of their children. Dr Elias Sory, Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, said the government had embarked on several programmes to help stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

He announced that an anti-retroviral treatment centre for HIV/AIDS patients had been established at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and other District hospitals.

He therefore urged people living with the disease to patronise the centres for voluntary counselling and treatment. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, commended Mrs Kufuor for promoting the cause of women and children, devoid of partisan politics.

He said women in the region were very enterprising and that they only needed some financial assistance to enhance their business. Alhaji Idris appealed to non-governmental organisations to assist the women to help reduce the poverty level in the region. Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama, wife of the Vice-President, who accompanied the First Lady, asked women groups to show special care and love to people living with HIV/AIDS and make contributions towards their upkeep.