Bekwai (Ash), Oct. 18, GNA - Miss Leticia Aye-Diabene, Amansie East District Director of Health Services, has added her voice to the call on Ghanaians to show compassion towards People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWAs).

"We must not shun or discriminate against these unfortunate members of the society. We must rather show them love and kindness." Miss Aye-Diabene was speaking at the launch of an advocacy programme on the reduction of stigmatisation and discrimination against PLWAs at Asante-Bekwai on Monday.

It was organised by the Amansie East District Directorate of Health Services and sponsored by Community Support Services, a local non-governmental organisation in collaboration with Hope for African Children Initiative, Save the Children and Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP).

She pointed out that stigmatisation of PLWAs and discrimination would force them to go underground and spread the disease, which she described as rather dangerous and would not help to stem the spread. Miss Aba Oppong, Reproduction Health Manager of CEDEP, explained that the launching of the programme was to help reduce the stigmatisation of PLWAs and encourage them to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

She advised the people to go for voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling and advised the youth, especially school children to abstain completely from sex.

Mr Samuel B. Arthur, an HIV/AIDS patient, said the disease was at the doorsteps of people whose lifestyles involved indiscriminate sex and therefore warned them to be careful in their sexual habits since the disease was real.