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Medical practitioners urged to build capacity to handle
HIV/AIDS
Sunyani, Oct. 18, Ghanadot/GNA- Alhaj Dr. Mohammed Bin
Abraham, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services on
Wednesday urged medical practitioners to build capacity to
handle HIV/AIDS patients.
This, he said, would enable them show compassion and help
erase the stigma placed on victims to help minimize the
spread of the scourge.
Alhaj Dr. Ibrahim was opening a three-day workshop, attended
by more than 30 HIV/AIDS volunteers selected from all the 10
regions of the country.
The workshop, which is being organized by the regional
branch of the St. John Ambulance in Sunyani and sponsored by
the Ghana AIDS Commission is on the theme "HIV/AIDS
capacity".
Alhaj Dr. Ibrahim explained that due to cross border
activities the prevalent rate of the disease in the region
was becoming alarming stressing the importance to continue
educating the public about the causes and effects of the
disease.
He said voluntary counselling and testing was very crucial
in the fight against HIV/AIDS and urged the general public
particularly the youth to go for the AIDS test to know their
status.
This would also aid victims to access anti-retroviral
therapy to help them live longer.
Mrs. Hilda Comey, Executive Secretary of St. John Ambulance
appealed to the public to desist from stigmatising HIV/AIDS
victims since "anyone can catch the disease".
She advised the participants to take the workshop very
serious and utilize the knowledge that would be acquired to
bring about a positive change in the various communities.
Dr. Saeed Ali Baketeh, a scientist at the regional hospital
and the resource person would lecture the participants on
HIV/AIDS programme management, Behavioural change,
communication, community sensitisation and some basic facts
about the disease.
GNA
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