E/R: AIDS Commission worried over increase in HIV cases

The Ghana AIDS Commission has raised red flags over the rise in new infections in the Eastern Region.

The Eastern Region which was notoriously known for the high prevalence rate made some strides in the fight against HIV but it is losing the gains made in recent months, a situation coordinators in the region described as alarming and unfortunate.

According to the commission, recent increases in new infection cases may be attributed to an increase in lost to follow and defaulter cases.

In an interview with Citi News on the sidelines of a stakeholders workshop organized for Students of Providence College from the USA in Koforidua, the former Eastern Regional Coordinator for the Technical Support Unit of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Madam Golda Asante said false prophecies from pastors and prayer camps contributing to the high number of defaulters.

“The rate of defaulters in the country and in our region is very high and becoming alarming, we have realized that some of our clients have been defaulting because they have been deceived by pastors that they can pray for them to be cured. Our checks also indicate that others too have been deceived to come for alternative medicine and in most of the case most of these clients come back to the hospital and their situations move from bad to worse”.

“This has become a major challenge to health workers and ambassadors and a threat in our quest to achieve our 90-90-90 target of getting 90 percent of people in the country know their status, tested and rolled out on medication.”

Madam Golda Asante then urged persons living with HIV not to default but continue with medications.

“I will use this medium to appeal to all Ghanaians to help their relatives and friends who are living with HIV not to skip medications but make regular visitation to the hospital and other health centres for their medicines. People living with HIV should also make a conscious effort not to default but routinely go for their drugs to help them live long.”

Source: citifmonline.com