VCT/STI Centre inaugurated at Tarkwa Hospital

Tarkwa, Jan 20, GNA - A 500-million-cedi Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Centre built jointly by Gold Fields Ghana and Anglogold Ashanti (Iduapriem) was yesterday inaugurated at Tarkwa.

Dr. Linda Vanotoo, acting Western Regional Director of Health Services, said Ghana was moving away from voluntary aspect of HIV testing to making people go for testing.

"People who opt out should be left out but as much as possible people should be made to go for HIV testing". Dr. Vanotoo said tuberculosis could not be left out when talking about HIV testing because HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB have become diseases of very significant public importance.

"About 30 percent or more people with HIV would die because of TB." Dr Ebenezer Acquah, the Medical Superintendent of Tarkwa District Hospital, said the hospital welcomes the kind of partnership that has been fostered by mining companies. 20 Jan 07