The Vice-President, Professor J. E. Atta Mills, has expressed serious concern about the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in the country and said the government is taking the necessary steps to check it spread.

He said unlike previously when everyone was silent about the disease, the recent dimension has brought it home that urgent measures should be put in place to create awareness about the pandemic.

Professor Mills stated this during a courtesy call on him by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium at the Castle, Osu in Accra yesterday. Princess Astrid is in the country on a four-day working visit during which she will serve as goodwill ambassador in raising funds to fight HIV/AIDS.

Professor Mills stressed the need to protect the country's human resource and added that unless something positive is done to check the spread of the disease awareness and education on its prevention. He indicated that Uganda has been invited to participate and share her experience with Ghana at the seminar.

He said he was encouraged by the fact that Princess Astrid has actively been involved in the fight against the dreadful disease. Princess Astrid, who is the President of the Belgium Red Cross, said she is in the country to assess the impact of the Red Cross on HIV/AIDS control programme and to find out how best to enhance it.

She said the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is currently organising a seminar on the HI/AIDS and food security in Africa in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Dr. Mary Grant, Member of the Council of State, said the rate of the spread of the disease has assumed an alarming dimension with about 200 people being infected daily.

She expressed surprise that most people have not yet realised the seriousness of the problem and said the government has been involving the World Health Organisation, non-governmental organisations and the Ghana Red Cross in its awareness creation and control of the pandemic.

Mr. Roger Bracke, Head of Operations and Support Service of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Switzerland who accompanied Princess Astrid, said the federation has identified 10 basic priority areas which include diarrhoea, malaria, reproductive issues and HIV/AIDS, among others, and mobilising massive support to combat them.

He said the effects of the HIV/AIDS on the human resource of most African countries will be horrifying within the next seven years and called for positive approach to its prevention.

Present at the meeting were Mr. J. A. Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. J. S. Aidoo, President of the Ghana Red Cross.