The Dormaa Municipal Assembly has held a stakeholders meeting to discuss ways to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Municipality.

The meeting enabled the stakeholders to generate action plans to facilitate measures to fight the disease.

Madam Florence Iddrisah, Municipal Director of Health Services said out of 2,252 people who were tested for HIV in 2014, 1,868 were positive, as against 1,582 in 2013.

Madam Iddrisah said 39 people tested positive in the first quarter of 2015 as against 455 the previous year.

She said shortage of Anti-Retroviral drugs, lack of training for midwives, stigmatisation and discrimination against People Living with HIV and AIDs and poor collaboration with the Municipal Assembly are some of the challenges facing the Directorate.

Mr Francis Boateng, Municipal Planning Officer, said the Assembly’s work plan on HIV and AIDS for 2015 includes updating the skills of focal person and accountants in current HIV and AIDS activities, preparing and disseminating reports on HIV and AIDS situation, enhancing the output of civil society organisations in implementing HIV and AIDS activities.

Mr Isaac Nsiah Edwards, the Municipal Director of Education said his outfit would embark on an advocacy for school managers on HIV and AIDS to provide clear guidance on AIDS programming to all levels in the school structure to ensure active participation of the educational workforce and students in HIV and AIDS activities.

Mr Jamad Mohammed Mukaila, Municipal Director of Food and Agriculture, expressed unhappiness about the lack of funds, which has thwarted efforts to educate farmers about the threats and dangers posed by the pandemic.