Stigmatisation thwarting efforts to curb spread of HIV/AIDS - Pastor

Gomoa Abora (C/R), Aug. 17, GNA - Efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS would be illusive if Ghanaians continued to treat people living with the disease as outcasts, Capt. Justice Incoom, member of Gomoa District AIDS Committee has said.

He said if people living with the virus knew that they would not be accepted by society they would not disclose their status, rather they would be tempted to infect others since they would not like to bear the stigma alone.

Capt. Incoom, a pastor of the Salvation Army was addressing a durbar at Gomoa Abora near Apam organised by Salvation Army Youth Club in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Gomoa District Assembly.

"Seriously speaking, stigmatisation is thwarting the efforts being made to reduce the spread of the disease," he said. He appealed to the Ghana AIDS Commission to channel a greater part of its resources into care and support for people living with the disease.

"Since about 90 per cent of Ghanaians are now aware of the pandemic and it mode of infection, attention should now be shifted from awareness creation to care and support for the people infected."

Alhaji Osman Moro Fukuyamah, also a member of the District AIDS Committee explained to the audience the mode of transmission, prevention and management of the disease.

He cautioned them against indulging in indiscriminate sex. Alhaji Fukuyamah cautioned the youth not to regard the condom as a licence to indulge in early sex, rather they should abstain from it until they were married.