HIV/AIDS Stigmatization Is Still An Issue Of Concern – Jesus Alodina
HIV/AIDS cases are surging higher behind the scenes even at the dawn of Covid-19 especially in the Eastern Region which has called for the need to intensify educational campaigns on it for the Ghanaian people.
In Last Year 2021, Eastern Region ranked 3rd in the number of infections on the national chart with 47,866 total infections among 13,988 being adult males, 30,006 being adult Females and the remaining 3,872 being children of the age class from birth to 14 years.
Birim Central district which was on focus had 1,152 total cases recorded with 292 being adult males, 776 being adult Females and 83 of the age class from birth to 14 years all included giving a clear sign that the infections are mostly found in greater number with the female gender than their opposite.
This year 2021 recorded 174 total infections from January to June in the Birim Central showing that the sexually transmitted disease if given much attention can be curbed.
Speaking on Ahenkan FM’s Maakye show hosted by Obuoba Ofori Amanfo on the 1st of December marked World HIV/AIDS day, the Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person of the Oda Municipal Assembly on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Jesus Alodina Abolunga said that more awareness is being created to advice people on their HIV/AIDS status and also to reduce the rising numbers.
Mr. Abolunga stressed that stigmatization of recognized HIV/AIDS infected patients has been the recent issue as such behaviour by people closer to the infected has killed many infected patients earlier than their estimated life span after being declared positive by a health center.
Mr. Abolunga also said that people who are declared positive should not be neglected but shown love and also be allowed to associate with family, friends and others to avoid stigmatization as the rate of contacting the infection is not through close contact but rather blood contact between people either by sexual intercourse, use of same sharp razor blades among other factors that introduces one person’s blood into the blood stream of another.
He finally urged people to use protection especially condoms when getting intimate with others and also visit nearby health centres for regular check-up on their status for at least every 6 months to help reduce the spread of the infection drastically.