Mankranso (Ash), July 27, GNA - The Ghanaian public have been urged to show respect and tender love to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) to rescue them from the constant gnawing apprehension of death which traumatises them everyday.

Nana Asumadu Sakyi, District Co-ordinating Director for Ahafo-Ano South, who was addressing a workshop at Mankranso on Wednesday, said PLWHAs who faced the future with uncertainty needed to be psyched up and not sneered at or rejected by society to worsen their plight. The nine-day HIV/AIDS workshop held under the theme, "Teachers, Agents of Dissemination and Change", was organised by the District Education Directorate for 600 teachers with sponsorship from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

Nana Sakyi said most PLWHAs often did not disclose their health status even to access health care for fear that the "righteous" ones in society will blame them for their immoral lives, which had landed them in their predicament.

He said home-based health and nursing care to ensure confidentiality is crucial if the government actually desires to prolong the lives of HIV/AIDS victims.

Nana Sakyi said the disease could also, on a minimum scale, be acquired through other means and it is not transmitted through hugging, playing and other social contacts.

"Let us all accept and interact with them to ensure their long life", he added.