Over 12,000 People Infected With HIV

Group photograph of participants of the programme at Elmina

Statistics available to DAILY GUIDE indicates that about 12,073 HIV cases were recorded in the country last year while 14,000 people died from AIDS in the same year.

Records further had it that the country has an HIV population of 225,487 with 30,397 being children.

In view of the alarming situation on the ground, Menyiwa Da Wo Do, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been instituted at Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality to rescue street children as well as to educate the public on HIV/AIDS.

The Director of the NGO, Mawuli Kwesi Aboagye, noted that the country had reduced new HIV infections by 66 percent from 2001 and 2011 being the highest reduction in West and Central Africa, while AIDS deaths had also reduced by 30 percent from 2005 and 2011.

Mr Aboagye stated that the NGO found it necessary to create a platform to raise awareness on how to prevent the virus and how to deal with affected persons in the various communities.

He said due to the traditions and culture in the country, children do not get the needed sex education which is needed for the education on HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases.

Mr Aboagye hinted that estimated figure of unreported cases of HIV infected people within the KEEA was very high due to high sex workers, homosexuals and drug abusers operating around the castle.

He revealed that plans had been put in place to collaborate with Ghana Education Service (GES) to organise programmes for over 1000 students, barbers, seamstresses/tailors and hairdressers in the area to avoid stigmatisation of people living with the disease as well as create a platform to play advocacy roles for the disease prevention.

From Sarah Afful, Elmina
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