Local Government sensitises staff on HIV/AIDS

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has held an HIV/AIDS sensitisation workshop for its staff on the dangers and prevention of the disease and avoidance of marginalising those living with it.

Madam Fati Lily Soale, Decentralised Response Coordinator of the Ministry, said some of the causes of HIV/AIDS included low condom use, marginalisation of people at risk like prostitutes and homosexuals and multiple concurrent sexual partners.

She said the Ghana Aids Commission had developed a national strategic plan to reduce by half all new infections of HIV/AIDS, eliminate mother to child transmission and leverage treatment.

She advised the participants to be faithful to their partners and avoid using objects like blades or scissors hat had already been used to prevent getting infected.

Mrs Edith Asare-Mensah, Public Health Practitioner at the Ledzokuku Health Directorate, said 80 per cent of HIV/AIDS was acquired through sexual intercourse, 15 percent through mother to child transmission, and others five per cent.

She said shaking hands and hugging or touching those living with HIV/AIDS would not get one infected adding that people living with AIDS need care and love.

Mrs Asare-Mensah advised the participants to go for testing in order to know their status as there is an anti retroviral drug to minimise the impact of the disease if the test proved positive.

She urged parents to advise their children on the need to avoid getting infected with HIV/AIDS.

Mr Vincent Adzato-Ntem, acting Chief Director of the Ministry, advised the staff to be faithful to their partners.