Apam, April 25, GNA - Dr Sylvia Anie, Director, Policy Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at Ghana AIDS Commission on Thursday said misconception of people about HIV/AIDS was thwarting their efforts in the management of the disease.

She noted that some people still regarded the disease as a curse or something spiritual which could not be treated at health facilities. Dr Anie was speaking at a workshop for stakeholders on HIV/AIDS at Apam.

It was organized by Gomoa District AIDS Committee to identify shortfalls in their programmes and plan for the way forward. The workshop was attended by Heads of Departments, religious leaders, NGOs, CBOs, assembly members, town/area council members. She expressed concern about false claims by some traditional medicine practitioners for the discovery of cure for HIV/AIDS without subjecting their preparations for testing.

Dr Anie said such claims which often turned out to be preparations which could sustain the immune system for a while gave false hope to people living with the disease.

"There is a difference between treatment and cure," she added. Dr Anie urged stakeholders to live above reproach and play their advocacy role effectively, adding, "a stakeholder who leads a promiscuous lifestyle cannot advocate for a change of behaviour." Mr Fred Oscar Abban, Presiding Member of Gomoa District Assembly said the assembly had decided to set aside two per cent of its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund, for HIV/AIDS activities including care and support for people living with the disease.

He appealed to stakeholders to provide the requisite information to everyone to make informed decisions and choices about their sexual life. Mr Abban advised parents to educate their children with the right information about HIV/AIDS.

Mr Eric Akobeng, Gomoa District Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person said Apam Catholic Hospital recorded 1,174 HIV/AIDS cases from 1992 - 2007.

It was made up of 385 men representing 33 per cent and 789 women representing 67 per cent.

He said members of Gomoa District AIDS Committee had proposed to undertake a research to determine the impact of HIV/AIDS interventions on poverty reduction and socio-cultural factors that fuelled the epidemic in the district.

Mr Akobeng said their approach would now be focused on the prevention of sexual transmission of the virus especially among vulnerable groups especially the youth.

He said they would ensure awareness creation at social gatherings such as festivals and funerals where sexual promiscuity was high.