89 people voluntarily screened for HIV/AIDs in KEEA, one tests positive

Some of the persons who voluntarily tested to know their HIV/AIDS status[/caption] Eighty-nine people within the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem municipality of the Central Region have been screened for HIV/AIDs with one person testing positive for the pandemic. This was after they participated in aerobics and games organised by Know Your HIV Status Street Campaign Program funded by the UNAIDS. The initiative was the fourth edition and designed to empower the citizenry to know their status as well as help to minimize the spread of the virus, identify persons living with the virus and to provide them effective counselling and drugs. Programme Coordinator for the Central Region Samuel Nana Effah Obeng said though the number recorded for those who tested positive was minimal, it is one too many, hence urged all to work towards zero HIV infection in the country. He said the number of people who voluntarily tested their HIV status is the largest in the street campaign initiative and attributed that to the rigorous campaign of the team in the last two months. Making a presentation, Counsellor Michael Tagoe of the Planned Parernthood Association of Ghana encouraged parents to educate their wards on sex related issues since that is the surest way of helping them to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases. He observed girls as young as 10 years were either getting pregnant or are infected with sexually transmitted diseases, a situation he said was largely because sex education has been relegated to the background. For her part Ms Anita Padi, a psychologist, advocated a vigorous health promotion with the aim to encourage people to know their HIV status. She said but for the fear of stigmatization and discrimination, a lot of people would have known their HIV status. Ms Padi charged religious organizations to use their platforms to fight against discrimination and stigmatization and to also encourage their members to get tested. By 3news.com|Ghana   ]]>