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"Avail yourself of voluntary
counselling and testing"-Ms Mann
Oda Nkwanta (ER), March 16, Ghanadot/GNA - The Birim South
District Health Management Team (DHMT) has embarked on a
public education programme in the communities to encourage
people to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to
know their HIV status.
Speaking at Oda Nkwanta on Friday, Ms Vida Shirley Mann, the
District AIDS Co-ordinator explained that knowing one's HIV
status would promote behavioural change in people.
She said it would also give room for early management of
opportunistic infections.
Ms Mann told the gathering that there was a VCT Centre at
the Akyem Oda Government Hospital and urged the people to
take advantage, adding that, those found to be positive
would then be given antiretroviral drugs.
She advised the people against promiscuity to avoid
contracting the disease, adding, "HIV/AIDS is not a
spiritual war but a physical warfare where we can all help
to fight".
The District Co-ordinator identified the three major signs
and symptoms of the disease as growing lean, prolonged
diarrhoea and fever for more than a month.
Miss Mary Bawa, a Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) Public
Health (PH), appealed to the people not to be afraid to go
for VCT and said the advantages of knowing one's HIV status
far outweighed the disadvantages.
She said the only way to fight the pandemic was for one to
abstain from casual sex, be faithful to one's partner or to
use condom.
"The journey of hope kit," a practical way of preventing the
disease, was later demonstrated to the people.
Nana Dwamena Akenteng II, Chief of Oda Nkwanta, who chaired
the function, expressed worry about young boys and girls who
loitered around late in the night and advised drinking bar
operators to close by 2200 hours.
GNA
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