MP CALLS FOR CREDIBLE DATABASE-ON GHANA'S HEALTH STATUS

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Agotime-Kpetoe

The Member of Parliament for Ho-East, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah has called for a credible data base and knowledge of the health status of the nation in order to monitor the health of the citizenry for effective human resource development.
She expressed worry about the lack of data and knowledge on HIV and AIDS status in the country and said the present national prevalence rate of 2.2 per cent and 3.25 per cent among pregnant women were being disputed due to the lack of proper data and knowledge status.
Mrs Azuamah-Mensah who is a professional midwife said this when she addressed a workshop on care and support of HIV and AIDS persons for health workers at Agotime-Kpetoe in the Adaklu-Anyigbe district.
The workshop, themed “ HIV and AIDS is no respecter of persons; so let us care and support PLWAs”, was organized by the Community Initiative for Women Development(CIWOD), a non-governmental organization focused on women empowerment with the collaboration of the Ghana Aids Commission and the Adaklu- Anyigbe district assembly.
THE MP urged the government to come out with a credible data base and knowledge status to remove doubts in the minds of the citizenry challenging the present data.
She entreated health workers to refrain from being judgemental, pointing accusing fingers and cruel to those who may be unfortunate to find themselves as victims of the disease.
“ HIV and AIDS is no respecter of persons so let us care and support people living with HIV and AIDS since we are all at risk and can become victims of the disease”, she said.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah advised workers to adhere strictly to their code of ethics in terms of confidentiality and in support of people with the disease so that they did not undergo pain and mistrust for fear of stigmatization, discrimination, rejection and the loss of their jobs.
“We must be the advocates for free VCT, anti retro viral drugs and other treatments whilst at the national level, a clear policy guideline on HIV and AIDS must be taken as priority” she stressed.
The acting Adaklu-Anyigbe district director of health services, Dr John Eleeza said it was easy to transmit the disease through non-adherence to blood screening and universal precautions and called on health workers to lay their emphasis on how the disease could not be contacted.
He urged counselors of the disease to be mindful of the fact that one couple could be positive and the other negative, resulting in sero-discordance which was normal so as not to ruin marriages.
“Two people can be married, have sex and live together but one of them can be positive HIV and AIDS and that various studies from Sub-Saharan Africa has shown that about 16 percent to 20 per cent of couples that are counseled and tested are discordant”, he stated.
The district focal person on HIV/AIDS, Mr Eric Agbo expressed misgivings on the lack of VCT centres in most districts which he said had compounded statistical problems on the disease, especially districts along the borders and called for the use of positive approaches to combat the menace.
‘As health workers, and as those who are supposed to know better and be educators and agents of change of our people, we should be circumspect in our encounter with PLWAs”, he cautioned.
A director of CIWOD, Mr Kwasi Asare stressed the need for committed, dedicated and determined leadership in the country to reduce the prevalent rate of the disease.