HIV Infection Low Among Moslems
DR. SYLVIA J. Anie, the Director of Policy and Planning at the Ghana AIDS Commission has hinted that Moslem communities all over the world record low HIV prevalence rates, compared to other religious denominations, especially Christians.
She said figures available showed that the spread of the disease within Moslem communities in Ghana and other Moslem dominated countries in the world was encouraging, with a nation like Morocco recording as low as 0% prevalence.
Turning attention to Ghana, Dr. Anie indicated that the Northern Region, which was dominated by Moslems, recorded 1.7% prevalence, representing the lowest rate realized last year in the country.
The HIV/AIDS Policy and Planning Director dropped the hint at a workshop organized by the League of HIV and AIDS Reporters, Ghana for journalists in Ho on how to report on HIV and AIDS.
Dr. Annie said although Muslim communities were predominantly polygamous, the sexual network that characterized their marital system did not permit promiscuity by couples.
Rather, sexual activities circulated among the marriage partners, adding that the wives remain faithful to their husbands and vice versa.
According to her, the Christian communities on the other hand, although not polygamous, saw husbands going about having numerous concubines in addition to their wives, whilst their wives did likewise.
She called on the media to help educate the public on the need to reduce the menace and disclosed that about 75% of commercial sex workers in Tema tested positive for HIV in a recent survey by the Ghana AIDS Commission.
She mentioned that there was a need to circumcise male children since that reduced HIV prevalence by 95%.
Meanwhile statistics of the Ghana AIDS Commission show that only 7% of Ghanaians know their HIV/AIDS status.
She explained that although there was the need for people living with HIV/AIDS to use anti-retroviral drugs, it was necessary for them to undergo medical supervision since the drugs had side effects.
From Victor Nyakey and Edem Adesi