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Health News of Monday, 29 December 2003

Source: GNA

Akpeteshie is not a cure for HIV/AIDS

The New Juaben Municipal Director of HIV Documentation Centre, Mr Kweku Boateng, has denied that the local gin, "Akpeteshi", is a cure for HIV/AIDS.

''If Akpeteshi is a cure for HIV/AIDS the world would not be wasting money on research, education and advocacy on the disease'', he said.

Mr Boateng was answering a question at a community forum on HIV/AIDS organized by the Koforidua branch of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) for the Ewe Community at Adweso on Sunday. The programme was sponsored by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

He said the 8.5 per cent prevalence rate of the disease in the New Juaben Municipality is the highest in the country and warned that if the people failed to change their sexual behaviour, in five years, every home in the municipality would be having a relation infected with the disease.

Togbe Ajavi, chief of the Ewe community, advised parents to take good care of their children so that they would grow up well to serve the community and the nation.