Techiman, Aug 01, GNA - Dr Bosomtwi-Boateng, a medical practitioner at the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, has said HIV/AIDS should not only be viewed as a medical problem but also as a scourge demanding socio-cultural approach in its management.

He called for intensive education to help change people's perception about the pandemic as well as sexual behaviour. Dr Bosomtwi-Boateng was speaking at the launch in Techiman of the National Service Week celebration, under the theme, "The Role of National Service in the fight against HIV/AIDS." He expressed doubts about national statistics that showed that the prevalent rate of the pandemic had dropped from 3.6 percent in 2003 to 3.1 percent in 2004.

"Diagnosis of patients found to be positive at the Holy Family Hospital did not show any drop in the prevalent rate", he said. Dr Bosomtwi-Boateng said between January and June 91 out of a total of 187 patients diagnosed at the hospital were found to be HIV positive. Mr. Pierre Kwabena Ankomah, the Techiman Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) who launched the week appealed to the personnel to appreciate the service scheme as a necessity and not a privilege.

He said the nation expected much from the service personnel in all sectors of the economy and that they should not fail the nation, especially when they had decided to get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.