Do not stigmatize HIV/AIDS patients-DEC

Breman Asikuma (C/R), Dec. 10, GNA - The District Chief Executive for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Mrs Nkrumah Aboah, has appealed to Ghanaians to refrain from stigmatizing and discriminating against People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA).

The DCE said such people should be given the necessary assistance and supports to enable them to feel that they had not been neglected by society.

Mrs Aboah was addressing a durbar at Breman Asikuma as part of activities marking World AIDS Day celebration in the district.

The programme, organised by the district Assembly was under the theme "Universal Access and human right".

A float, made up heads of departments, teachers and assembly members joined school children in the area, amidst brass band music through the principal streets of Breman Asikuma Township to create awareness of the pandemic.

She advised the people in the district not to take the HIV/AIDS disease for granted because it really exists, adding that, abstinence is the only effective way to avoid contracting the disease.

She urged the people to be mindful of their sexual behaviour and avoid indiscriminate sex.

The DEC said the theme for the occasion was very appropriate as it was urgent for Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

"It is very important we do not trample on the rights of people living with the disease such as terminating their appointments, ejecting them from their residences".

At the durbar, 40 people were given free screening and voluntary counselling.

Mr Theophilus Ribeiro, the district HIV/AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation focal person, at a reception organised for the school children as part of the activities marking the Day, advised the youth to concentrate on their books and desist from spending their time with friends and other unnecessary activities that do not contribute towards their education and their life.

GNA