Koforidua, July 23, GNA- The Ghana Pharmaceutical Students' Association (GPSA) in collaboration with the Ghana Herbal Medical Students' Association (GHESA) have embarked on health educational campaigns in the Eastern Region.

Mr Cyprus Baidoo, President of the GPSA told the GNA in Koforidua that, the campaign starts with the posting of 10 to 15 students to each District of the region with visitation to schools in the mornings, workplaces, markets, shops and organizations in the mornings, and the communities in the evenings.

"Churches and Mosques will not be left out on weekends. Special sections will be held for traditional and opinion leaders as well ". Mr Baidoo said at the end of the program, the Associations expected an increased awareness of what adverse drug reaction was. He said the Associations also expected adequate education on why people should look out for and report adverse drug reactions, as well as increased knowledge on safe use of drugs.

"We also expect an increase in patient-drug compliance hence making health care delivery more cost effective". He said they also expect to break the stigma, discrimination, cultural and traditional barriers to HIV/AIDS infection as well as an exponential increase in the awareness of HIV/AIDS. "Promoting the responsiveness to the side effects of alcoholic beverages used especially as aphrodisiacs and how illegal narcotic drugs can affect negatively, a person's status". Mr Baidoo said they expected a general improvement on the health status of the inhabitants of the region, adding that, the Associations believed that the health of a people directly affected the socio-economic growth of that country.

"Our goal therefore, is ultimately geared towards preventive measures through knowledge impartation and also to create awareness on such health matters that need immediate remedy". He said sufficient information available to them implicated the region to be the one with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence and therefore in addition to their traditional educative topics, safe and rational use of drugs and adverse drug reactions, "we will reiterate the need to stay away from vices that propagate the virus".