The Ho West District HIV/AIDS Committee of GAC in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service on Tuesday 8th November, 2022 organized HIV/AIDS Advocacy, screening and counseling for the people of Avatime as part of activities towards the celebration of the Amu Festival.
The advocacy was under the theme; “Equalize” 20 years of a multi-sectorial HIV response: Accelerating progress to end AIDS”
The advocacy, screening and counseling aimed at encouraging people to know their status, create awareness and sensitize people about the disease. It was also a prompt for all stakeholders to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS in our societies.
Mr. Seth Amegashitsi, the Public Health Promotion Officer disclosed that the rapid rate of increase in HIV cases in the country is alarming hence the need to sensitize people to raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS, prevention and fight against stigma associated with the disease.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of the exercise to enable them know their HIV status in order to live a better life, give counseling to those who were voluntarily tested and educate them on the need to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
The youth were also advised to abstain from sex or use a condom since unprotected sex is a high risk of contracting the disease.
Residents were also taken through other health related screening which include but not limited to BP, Syphilis, Weight, among others.
Meanwhile, the District Coordinating Director accompanied by some Heads of Departments/ Units, the Presiding Member, Hon. Rita Semanu Eglegbe; Team from the District Health Directorate as well as Executives of Biakpa Citizens Association inspected the newly constructed CHPS Compound at Biakpa as part of preparations to commission the facility by the First lady of the land on Saturday, 12th November, 2022.
Source: ISD, HO WEST
