Nursing officer proposes compulsory HIV test for patients

Kumasi, June 19, GNA - Mrs. Vivian Addo Cobbiah, Principal Nursing Officer in-charge of Maternity at the Kumasi South Hospital, has proposed that patients who continue to show symptoms of their illness after treatment for a period of time should be counselled and made to go for the HIV/AIDS test.

This, she said, would enable medical doctors to diagnose and make the correct prescriptions for their treatment without complications. Mrs Cobbiah stated this when she interacted with members of the Ahinsan Crystal Youth Club, a benevolent society after the club had undertaken a four-hour clean-up exercise at the hospital in Kumasi on Saturday.

Mrs. Cobbiah, who is also the Asokwa Sub-Metro HIV/AIDS Focal Person, noted that the hospital would soon be designated as the next AIDS referral centre after the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). To this end, therefore, she indicated that the hospital had also been selected to provide HIV/AIDS anti-retroviral drugs at a highly subsidised fee.

She cautioned members of the club to abstain from sexual promiscuity and pre-marital sex since the Asokwa sub-metro had a high prevalence rate of the pandemic.

Mr Nicholas Osei-Wusu, President of the club, said the exercise was in fulfilment of the club's resolve to sustaining environmental hygiene in its operational area.