HIV infection on the increase in Tamale

Tamale, Oct. 29, GNA - , Dr J.E. Mensah, Chairman of the Northern Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), disclosed in Tamale on Wednesday that over a three-years period, from 1999 to 2002, HIV infection in the Tamale Metropolis has increased by 300 per cent. He said with an estimated current population of 318,000, there were currently an estimated 7,600 people living with HIV in the Metropolis. Dr Mensah, who was delivering a speech on the HIV/AIDS situation in the Northern Region during the launch of this year's celebration of the Ghana Medical Association "Health Week", said the trend of prevalence in the region showed that HIV infection rate had been on the ascendancy only over the past three years, since 1994.

The week-long celebration is on the theme: "HIV/AIDS, the role of the community leaders".

Dr Mensah said: "A closer look at the trend of the prevalence in Northern Region paints a disturbing picture.

"In 1999, the prevalence in Tamale was 0.8 per cent. This rose to 1.30 per cent in 2000, a 62.5 per cent increase in just one year", he said adding, "the prevalence doubled between 1999 and 2001 to 1.6 per cent.'' He said: "This simply means that over a period of two years, the number of people infected with the virus doubled in the Tamale Metropolis. Currently, the prevalence in Tamale is 2.4 per cent according to the 2002 sentinel survey"

Dr Mensah said a study of HIV prevalence by site by age group reported in 2002 sentinel survey indicated that Tamale and Nalerigu in the East Mamprusi District, were among the eight out of 24 sites in the 15 to 19 year age group that showed no record of infection.

"For the region therefore the "Window of Hope" (age five to 14) could be wider than the normal nine year period, and therefore, we as community leaders have more time to impact positively on the trend of infection of HIV in the region".

Dr Mensah said, however, that in the age group 25-29 years, the study indicated that the Tamale Metropolis was among the top 10 sites, which had prevalence rates above the national mean of 3.8 per cent. "The message here is that if we would ever have control over HIV/AIDS, then we must start with the youth.

"This point needs to be stressed further. Ghana has a young population and it is estimated that 45 per cent of this is below the age of 15 years, he said, adding, "UNAIDS estimates that 50 per cent of all new infections of HIV occur in the age group of 15 to 24 years..." Dr Mensah noted that currently in the country, with a population of about 19.4 million, there are an estimated 650,000 people infected with the virus.

"This is really frightening. Even more worrying is the finding that there is now no obvious difference in HIV prevalence between the national or regional capitals and the district capitals".

The Regional Chairman of the GMA called on the Regional House of Chiefs and the traditional authorities, whom he described as "custodians of our national cultural heritage", to uphold all of "our cherished traditional family values and ensure that these are taught to the youth".

"Additionally, these traditional authorities should support appropriate intervention measures in the fight against HIV/AIDS", he said.

In an address read for him to launch the Week, Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister noted that today in Africa, AIDS has become a crisis that threatens to reverse a generation of accomplishment in human development.

He said: "The socio-economic and moral trauma of AIDS on the people is enormous regardless of culture, geographical location or religious beliefs. AIDS has therefore become an emergency that affects many areas such as health, the economy, education and humanitarian work". Mr Debrah expressed regret that, while efforts were being made to check the ravages of the disease, the "message seems to be lost on some people".

''There are people in our society who throw caution to the wind and behave as if they are insulated from the effect of the disease. Others too do not seem to believe that AIDS can be contacted through casual sex", he said.

The Regional Minister urged religious leaders to enlighten and educate their followers on the hazards of the disease, saying, "by appreciation of the tenet of the situation, you can communicate effectively and extensively within the communities that you represent".

He said, while the nation grappled with the AIDS tide, "we need to reconsider our attitude towards our unfortunate compatriots who have been infected with the disease".

"We need to be compassionate and accommodating instead of parochially treating them like outcasts who must be ostracized. This way we can mitigate the misery they experience in society".

Representatives of the Christian and Muslim communities as well as a youth representative presented their perspectives on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Reverend Father Christopher Bazaanah, Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tamale, said HIV/AIDS was like any other disease and not a punishment from God as some people erroneously believed. He said: "HIV/AIDS is not an individual or personal problem. It is a challenge with devastating consequences for Ghana, Africa and the world as a whole".

Alhaji Mohammed Ghazali, Secretary for the Central Mosque Council in Tamale, said if religious leaders and their followers would go by the tenets of the Bible and the Koran, then "the country will be on its way to eradicating this scourge."

Mr Abass Salifu, President of the Youth League of Tamale, called for a sustained public education on HIV/AIDS.

He urged the government, civil society organizations, chiefs and other traditional authorities to join hands in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In a welcoming address, Dr John Abenyeri, GMA Northern Regional Secretary, said the fight against HIV/AIDS and its control should be seen as a national priority, which called for the concerted efforts of all Ghanaians.