Stigmatization, a barrier to
anti-retroviral drugs usage among PLWHAs
Ho, June 20, Ghanadot/GNA- Dr. Sylvia J. Anie, Director
of Policy and Planning, Ghana Aids Commission (GAC),
said only about 20 per cent of People Living With
HIV?AIDS (PLWHAs) took anti-retroviral drugs in Ghana.
She said the remaining 80 per cent of PLWHAs declined to
go for the drug because of stigmatization and
discrimination.
Dr. Anie was speaking at a workshop on HIV/AIDS
reporting, organized by the League of HIV/AIDS
Reporters, Ghana, in collaboration with the GAC, for
journalists in the Volta Region, in Ho.
The event focused on how reporting on HIV/AIDS could
help, reduce stigmatization and discrimination against
PLWHAs.
Dr. Anie said seven per cent of country's population
knew their HIV/AIDS status and urged journalists to
encourage the people to undertake voluntary counseling
and testing of the disease to know their status.
She said misinformation, stigmatisation and
discrimination among others remained the major factors
undermining the Commission's drive against stemming the
prevalence of the disease in the country.
Dr. Anie discounted claims by some herbalists that they
had found a cure for HIV/AIDS, which according to her
was possibility not likely " even for the next 20
years".
She explained that there was no " agent" to completely
kill the HIV and that the disease could only be managed
and not cured adding "The virus is complex, it mutates,
thus difficult to wipe out".
Dr. Anie said that only anti-retroviral drugs could
control the virus and prolong the lives of PLWHAs and
urged the media to educate such people to use the drug
to enable them to live longer.
Mr Ato Amoaning-Annan, president of the League of
HIV/AIDS Reporters, Ghana, advised journalists to use
decent languages in reporting HIV/AIDS issues to help
reduce the stigmatization and discrimination.
He said news on HIV/AIDS cases should show compassion
for such people instead of sensationalizing the news and
stereotyping the PLWHAs.
Mr Ato Amoaning-Annan said "Develop good attitudes
towards HIV/AIDS reporting and respect the rights and
privacy of PLWHAs".
Mr Gregory Amenuvegbe, Volta Regional HIV/AIDS
Coordinator, who spoke on clinical management of
HIV/AIDS said a total of 590 PLWHAs in the region were
on clinical care from July to December 2007.
Mr Bright Kornu, Regional Focal Person on HIV/AIDS,
commended stakeholders in the Region especially
non-governmental organisations and community-based
organisations for helping to bringing HIV/AIDS
prevalence in the Region from three per cent in 2006 to
two per cent in 2007.
He urged them to remain committed to their work to make
the Region an HIV/AIDS free zone.
Mr Kornu lamented the refusal of most district
assemblies in the region to commit the mandatory one per
cent of their Common Fund to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He said apart from North Dayi, Krachi-East and North
Tongu districts all the remaining 15 assemblies failed
to attach the needed attention to issues on HIV/AIDS.
GNA
