Ghanaians advised not to attribute HIV/AIDS to witchcraft

Abofour-Dumasua (Ash), Sept 30, GNA- Ghanaians have been advised against attributing the causes of HIV/AIDS to either witchcraft or evil forces.

Mr A.A. Adams, the Offinso District Assembly focal Person on HIV/AIDS, who gave the advice, observed that unless people disabuse their minds that AIDS is caused by evil forces, national efforts at checking the spread of it might not yield the desired results. He gave the advice at a workshop on HIV/AIDS organised jointly by the Dumasua Youth in Action, a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) and the Ghana AIDS Commission for chemical sellers, street children and members of Otec Fun Club at Abofour-Dumasua in Ashanti on Monday. Similar AIDS awareness creation workshops had been organised for students of the Dumasua, Abofour and New Life International Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and hairdressers.

Mr Adam stressed, "the wrong conception that AIDS originates from witchcraft, curses and evil spirits, has virtually blinded many people to the fact that the disease is real and contracted through casual sex and various immoral acts".

Mrs Christiana Yeboah, Medical Assistant in-charge of the Abofour Health Centre, advised people not to take the disease for granted but take precautionary measures in order to protect themselves against it. Mr S.O. Tawiah, the project co-ordinator, explained that the Dumasua Youth in Action has decided to feature prominently education on HIV/AIDS because they believe that it is only when people are healthy that they can contribute more meaningfully to national development.