Traditional leaders call for review of laws on individual's privacy

Sekondi, Sept. 17, GNA- About 50 chiefs and Queenmothers from the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis and the Ahanta West District on Tuesday expressed concern about some aspects of Human Rights Law which prevents doctors from disclosing the HIV/AIDS status of sufferers.

The traditional rulers, who were attending a workshop on HIV/AIDS at Sekondi, held that the inability of doctors to reveal the information on HIV/AIDS victims due to the law on individual right to privacy is a contributing factor in the spread of the pandemic.

They noted that the practice where HIV positive persons are allowed to go about freely spreading the disease without knowing their own status is a " threat to the lives of Ghanaians".

The chiefs said so much talk and education on HIV/AIDS would not achieve the desired results so long as the laws on freedom of individual privacy continues to prevent doctors from exposing sufferers.

They called on Parliament to take a second look at the law in view of the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS in the country.