600 HIV/AIDS at Korle Bu currently on ARV doing well

Accra, June 27, GNA - About 600 HIV/AIDS patients currently receiving government subsidized Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) drugs at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are responding well to treatment.

The patients, paying 50,000 cedis per month for the drug that could cost about 500,000 cedis were responding positively to the treatment, as many who were admitted ill and weak eventually leave the clinics feeling much better to go about their normal duties.

Mrs Emily Kotey, Principal Nursing Officer of the Fevers Unit, that housed the HIV/AIDS patients at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital disclosed this to the GNA after she received on behalf of the unit, a cheque of 10 million cedis from the Ghana Union Assurance (GUA) Company. The GUA, comprising insurance industries such as, brokers, underwriters, adjustors, and educators together with the National Insurance Commission made the donation as part of their annual week celebration.

Mrs Kotey said currently, only 19 HIV/AIDS patients are on admission at the unit. She said for this month alone, 28 out of a total of 47 patients who were admitted have been discharged after administering the ARV drugs but noted that some found it difficult to pay the 50,000 cedis charged. She expressed gratitude to the Union, promising that the money would be used for its intended purpose of cushioning the financial burden of the patients and the Unit.

Dr. Laud Hanson-Nortey, a Resident Doctor of the Unit announced that in 2005 every regional hospital would start administering the ARV. Presenting the cheque, Nana Agyei Duku, Managing Director of the Union said undoubtedly when one visits the fevers unit, one would realized that much help was needed as far as caring for HIV/AIDS patients was concerned, adding, the department needed immense help to cushion its financial burden.