HIV/Aids Campaign for ASSI

A one-day HIV/AIDS awareness workshop to sensitise the business community on the impact of the disease, was organised for executive members of the Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI), in Accra last Friday.

It also aimed at educating participants on controlling the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is having a great effect on the nation's socio-economic growth.

It was organised by Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), supported by Family Health International (FHI) and sponsored by USAID.

Mrs. Gifty Ofori, Programme Organiser, Family Health International, said AIDS is also posing a security crisis in some African countries. "There is adequate evidence that the disease is no longer just a health issue. It is rather seriously threatening the development of nations. It is destroying our economic, social, cultural or national boundaries and measures have to be taken to reduce the rate of infection in the country."

She therefore called for a concerted effort and multi-sectoral approach to buttress government efforts at fighting the HIV/AIDS menace.

She said the disease has an adverse impact at workplaces; it brings reduction in labour as the most productive age is affected, loss of skilled manpower, and absenteeism, causing loss of revenue among other detrimental factors.

Mrs. Evelyn Quaye, a representative of the National Aids Commission, advised participants to avoid unprotected sex which causes 85 per cent in HIV/AIDS infections with the rest shared among blood transfusions, cust from infested sharp piercing instrument and others.

She told breastfeeding mothers living with the disease but catering for uninfected baby to seek advice from medical officers on how to breastfeed their babies. She said they should not rely on the artificial method of feeding their babies, adding that, breastfeeding protects babies from sickness and helps them live longer.