15-09-2011 Regional HIV/AIDS Conference records shocking revelations
Narration: Available statistics from the 2010 HIV Sentinel survey conducted across the county has shown an unprecedented increase in HIV prevalence rate in the Upper East Region recording as high as 2.4 percent compared to the country’s median HIV prevalence rate of 1.5. This comparably leaves the region with one of the highest prevalence rate in the country, thereby thwarting the effort of the region’s health sector. The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams who made the disclosure at the occasion of a regional stakeholder’s conference on HIV and AIDS at Bolgatanga, lamented that until stakeholders attach strong commitment in dealing with the situation, the fight against the deadly HIV scourge would be a mirage. Here is a report by Correspondent Isaac Asare for Radio Ghana.
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The Regional conference which was organized under the auspices of the Regional Health Directorate was on the theme: ‘Reducing HIV Prevalence Rate and mitigating its Effects: The Role of Stakeholders. It was among other interventions aimed at highlighting the burden of HIV/AIDS and the threat it poses to the socio-economic development of Ghana particularly Upper East, Upper West and Northern region as well as other regions across the borders. It was also geared at increasing public awareness on the prevention, treatment, care and support for people living with the disease. Dr Awoonor-Williams said the scourge of HIV and AIDS cannot be overempahasised. Unlike most infectious diseases, HIV and AIDS do not forbid anybody and affects people during the most economically productive years of life ,the consequences of which have telling effects on all sectors of the economy. He said the deadly virus that causes AIDS has already infected and is affecting many Ghanaians, stressing that there is no individual ,family or community in Ghana which has not been affected by the disease either directly or indirectly. Quoting figures from the 2010 HIV Sentinel Survey conducted across the country, Upper East Region recorded a high percentage of 2.4 prevalence rate an increase high above the national prevalence rate of 1.5 percent and mentioned Bolgatanga, Bawku Municipal and Navrongo, as the red flagged areas in the region with women and children being the vulnerable group. He was sad to note that while all regions in Ghana showed a downward trend of HIV prevalence, the region recorded an increase describing the situation as worrying. What is more disturbing he observed, was that most people in the region do not know their HIV status, thus contributing to its spread. Dr Awoonor-Williams maintained that his outfit as a leading agent in providing healthcare to those who are in need, will not relent in their effort to provide Comprehensive Care of HIV Testing and Counseling, Prevention of Mother –to-child Transmission, Anti-Retroviral Therapy and Sexually Transmitted Infections management. He therefore encouraged individuals to visit the health centres take advantage of such opportunities since most infected persons have ignorantly succumb to the ravages of the disease. Dr Awoonor –Williams also called for the collective effort of organizations and individuals to come out with cost effective interventions and workable action plans to help stem the menace since government and for that matter the country’s health sector cannot shoulder the responsibility alone. he moreover stress the urgent need to mobilize resources to fill in gaps that will be identified in terms of resources to support HIV and AIDS activities in the areas of education, care, support and information sharing. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, for her part, appealed to all to show love and compassion to people who have fallen victim to the diseases and not treat them with disdain. She also charged participants particularly dignitaries from neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo who were present at the conference to come out with interventionary measures on HIV/AIDS in order to enhance regional cooperation in the fight against the disease in the Ghana and the sub-region as a whole.
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