Statistics on HIV/AIDS do not reflect prevalence

Juaso (Ash), Aug 1, GNA - Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Asante-Akim South District Director of Health Services, has observed that statistics on HIV/AIDS in the country do not reflect the realities on the grounds. He said though national figures on the prevalence rate of the pandemic showed a continuous decline, the situation on the ground depicted otherwise.

Factors such as the lack of voluntary testing, the lack of attitudinal change and the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy, according to Dr Asiedu-Bekoe, served as good indicators of the prevalence of the disease.

He made the observation at a three-day workshop on HIV/AIDS organised for teachers drawn from first and second cycle institutions in the Asante-Akim South District on Monday.

The workshop on the theme: "Teachers, Agents of Dissemination and Change", was attended by 523 participants drawn from 85 schools. It was aimed at integrating the teaching of topics on HIV/AIDS in their lessons as a means of sensitising pupils on the dangers of the disease.

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe expressed concern about the upsurge in teenage pregnancy, while the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS decreased, saying, the situation required a thorough research to bring to the fore the realities on the ground.

He urged stakeholders to adopt innovative means of assessing the prevalence rate of the disease to ensure that accurate figures were provided.

Mr Fabian Belieb, District Director of Education, said teachers were in the best position to educate the public on the pandemic through their pupils who were in daily contact with the people.

He noted that most teachers served as role models in communities in which they lived, hence equipping them with the necessary information on the disease was an effective way of combating it.

Dr Lord Justice Gyamfi-Fenteng, District Chief Executive, entreated the participants to effectively integrate topics on HIV/AIDS in their lessons after the training to ensure the objectives of the workshop were achieved.

The DCE urged the District Education Directorate to effectively monitor the performance of the participants to ensure that their pupils also benefited from the workshop.