Ashanti selected for launch of AIDS programme

Kumasi, March 10, GNA - The District Respond Initiative (DRI) on HIV/AIDS, which started in 1997 on a pilot basis in 10 districts, is now to be implemented on a wider scale, using Ashanti Region as the take-off point.

Dr. Joe Annan, Consultant for the United Nations Joint Programme for HIV/AIDS, announced this when a Multi-Disciplinary Team on HIV/AIDS, called separately on Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The calls were in response to the Asantehene's proposal to the World Bank for support in controlling AIDS in Asanteman and to discuss the role of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) on the DRI on HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Annan said the Ashanti Region was chosen because of the great interest the Asantehene has already expressed in the anti-AIDS campaign programme. He said the implementation of the full-scale AIDS Programme, which is being funded by the World Bank and United Nations, has a package for the training of doctors and personnel in 17 out of the 18 districts in Ashanti.

The Adansi West District has already benefited from the HIV/AIDS programme under the pilot scheme. Dr. Annan said the District Management Fund, District Implementation Fund and the General Fund would be used to support the programme.

Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said to ensure a smooth execution of the programme, the Multi-Disciplinary Team has proposed the establishment of a board on HIV/AIDS at the regional level, possibly with a permanent secretariat attached to it.

Committees on AIDS in the districts will assist the board to facilitate the implementation of plans and strategies on AIDS. Otumfuo Osei Tutu assured the Team of the readiness of the chiefs and people of Asanteman to help implement the HIV/AIDS programme in Ashanti.

The Asantehene, however, cautioned them against long delays and cumbersome bureaucratic tendencies that could undermine the programme.