HIV/AIDS infection among pregnant women high

Tamale, Nov 16, , GNA - Mr Pelmac Kweku Atiase, Events Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission, has expressed concern at the high rate of HIV/AIDS infection among pregnant women.

He said: "The situation is worrying considering the fact that the children these women will deliver also stand the risk of being infected with the disease.

Mr Atiase, was speaking at the Northern Regional launch of "World AIDS Day" in Tamale on Saturday.

The celebration of this year's World AIDS Day is on under the theme: "Reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS..

Mr Atiase advised women, especially the teenage ones " You should not readily jump into bed with men for temporary financial gains since the long-term effect of your action could destroy you future and your family".

Mr Iddrisu Adam, Tamale Metropolitan District Chief Executive said: "AIDS is now more of a developmental and human rights issue because it destroys the human resource of the country and affects the rights of women in respective with their reproductive lives".

He appealed to Ghanaians to show compassion to people living with AIDS saying discrimination against them could force them to go underground and intentionally infect others with the disease.