Bolgatanga, Nov. 20, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu on Wednesday stressed the need to redirect national efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic.

He said as a first step, the general public should be encouraged to give compassion and respect to people living with the disease.

Mr Salifu said: "Little has been done to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with people living with HIV/AIDS", adding that infected persons could deliberately pass on the disease to other people.

He was speaking at a durbar organised in Bolgatanga to receive the HIV/ AIDS compassion flame, which arrived in the Upper East Region on Wednesday afternoon from the Northern Region.

The event formed part of activities planned to mark this year's World AIDS day celebration, which falls on December 1.

Mr. Salifu called on the chiefs and people of the region to support educational campaigns and other activities aimed at changing cultural practices that negatively affected the health of the people.

A representative of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Mr Pelmac Atiase, said the HIV/AIDS flame, which was being sent through the country, was a symbol of hope to rekindle the individual and collective spirit of Ghanaians towards the eradication of the epidemic.

Mr Amin Osman, a 30-year-old shoemaker and a cyclist from the Northern Region, later presented the flame to the Regional Minister, who also gave it to a 35-year-old farmer, Mr Moses Akanyisige, who would in turn carry the torch to the Upper West Region.