Ghanaians have been urged to treat People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) with respect instead of stigmatizing and discriminating against them.

Mr Andrews Kwasi Acheampong, the Executive Director of Child Aid and Youth Development Network (CAYDNET) a non-governmental organization (NGO), noted that being closer to PLHIV would give other people the confidence to go for testing and counseling.

He was speaking at an HIV and AIDS forum at Akyem Aduasa in the Birim South District to mark World AIDS Day in the area under the theme “Reducing HIV Stigmatization and Discrimination”.

Mr Acheampong urged Ghanaians to help build a healthier, wealthier and more productive society by reducing the negative attitudes and practices linked with HIV and AIDS.

Mr Richard Essien, District Disease Control Officer of the Ministry of Health advised all, especially pregnant women, to go to hospital for testing in order to know their status.

He noted that PLHIV could live longer and be productive provided they kept on taking their anti-retroviral drugs.

Mr Yaw Ofosu-Baah, Education and Public Relations Director of the NGO, said the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) had trained 10 peer educators of the organization to implement the National Strategic Plan Project for 2012/2013 of new HIV infection in the district.

Mr Ofosu-Baah, who is also the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Project in the area, called on the communities to cooperate with the peer educators to make the project successful.