Accra, Sept. 16, GNA - The Matron in charge of the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic at Ridge Hospital in Accra, has observed that open and honest communication is the best tool for curtailing HIV and AIDS. Mrs Mercy Acquah- Hayford noted that most persons living with the disease are often shy to identify themselves because of the stigma and discrimination they would face in the society.

Mrs Acquah-Hayford also the Co-ordinator of International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERALA+ Ghana) made the observation on Thursday at the First Anniversary of the body on the theme:"Positive faith in Action."

She expressed the need to train the youth as peer educators and goodwill ambassadors to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS. Reverend John Kworshe Azumah, Circuit Head, Mountain Zion Evangelical Ministry expressed concern about the low level of media participation in HI= V and AIDS issues and urged journalists to exhibit high level of concern to fight the pandemic. "The fight against HIV and AIDS can never be successful without the role of the media," he stressed. Rev Albert Freeman, INERALA+ Co-ordinator in Sierra Leone rebuffed the notion that distribution of condoms by the network to the public promotes promiscuity. "Whether we like it or not people have sex and all that we want to d= o is to ensure that such people are protected," he said. Mr Eric Pwabura, Communication Officer at Ghana AIDS Commission said the fight against HIV and AIDS is a multi sectoral responsibility, which demands the minds and hands of each and every one. He said there are 230,000 people living with HIV who needs encouragemen= t to contribute their quota to the development of the country. INERALA+ is a network with the aim of educating the public to abstain from sex, be faithful to their partners or use condom.

The network has now adopted a more comprehensive approach called "SAVE", which means Safer practices, Access to treatment and nutrition, Voluntary counselling and testing and Empowerment. It has its headquarters in South Africa. Ghana is the 19th African country to join the network with more than 10,000 members and 200 faith based responses reaching to about a million people across the world. The network is aimed at equipping, empowering and engaging members to live positively and openly as agents of hope and change in their faith communities.