Takoradi, March 29, GNA - The Effia-Nkwanta Hospital can now undertake Counselling and Testing (VCT) of HIV/AIDS cases, following the installation of a "CD4 lymphocyte" a testing machine.

It has also taken delivery of large quantities of anti-retroviral drugs (ARTD) from the Central Medical Stores for supply to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Western Region.

Dr. Sylvester Anemana, Western Regional Director of Health Services announced this at the launch of a book compiled by the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) in Takoradi on Tuesday. He said the region would also take delivery of two additional testing machines, which would be installed at the Saint Martins de Porres at Eikwe and Saint John of God hospitals at Sefwi Asafo. Dr. Anemana said the facilities would help to ease the anxiety of PLWHA and the high cost of travelling to seek medical care.

"Access to HIV/AIDS treatment centres used to be a major barrier for PLWHA but with the ongoing decentralisation, the rights of PLWHA would be protected.

Miss Bernice Sam, National Programme Coordinator of WiLDAF Ghana said funding was from the African Women's Development Fund. She said the book focuses on people who have been infected with HIV/AIDS and those who were affected by the disease.

Ms. Sam said interviews were conducted in Greater Accra, Volta and Western regions, PLWHA, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, medical doctors, lawyers, judges, pastors, teachers and orphanages. She said it was sad that even though the 1992 constitution speaks against discrimination, PLWHA were discriminated against, because they had contracted the disease, widowed or orphaned.

WiLDAF is a pan-African network of organisations and individuals working to facilitate communication, learn from each other and expand the role of literacy volunteers through legal education at the national, regional and district levels.