Women in Burkina Faso at the weekend appealed to the Global World to support the quest for the control of HIV in Africa and provision of drugs and other amenities that would help those infected.
They noted that African women were most vulnerable not only because of the structure of their gender but also due to poverty, illiteracy, and polygamous marriages.
Madam Chantal Compoare, wife of President Blaise Compoare of Burkina Faso, made the appeal on behalf of the women during the celebration of World's Women Day at Tenkodogo, Capital of the Central East Province of Burkina Faso.
The day was celebrated on the local theme, “Women and HIV/AIDS, Let us fight Against Discrimination and Stigmatisation.”
Madam Compoare urged all women to get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS and support each other to cope with the menace in their families.
She also advised all to go for medical test so that they could seek early treatment.
She condemned the practice whereby men sacked their wives from the marital home when they tested positive and called on all spouses to support each other when one is found to be infected.
“It is when your wife or husband is tests positive that she or he needs you most and you need to support each other and plan the future of your children together.”
Madam Celine Yoda, Minister in charge of Women's Affairs, called on local NGOs and foreign partners in development to focus attention on poverty alleviation and the promotion of education so that women would be well empowered to protect them selves against infection.
She said of all the infected persons in the Country, 54 per cent were women while 46 per cent were male.
Mr Simeon Sawadogo, Governor of the Central East Province, expressed concern at the high rate of infection of the virus and said the Burkina Faso's present rate of three per cent needed to be reduced.
He noted that some cultural problems were rather causing infection rate to escalate and mentioned widow inheritance and forced marriages
The ceremony was a very colourful one with many women, from the First Lady to the physically challenged, dressed in the same designed fabric with the symbol of HIV/AIDS and the Women's Day embossed on it.
The Ghanaian delegation to the ceremony was led by Mrs Agnes Chigabatia, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister.
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