By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Dec. 02, GNA — The Tema Manhean Polyclinic has commemorated the 2025 World AIDS Day with a health screening for residents.
The celebration saw health officials educating residents on the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
It was observed on the theme: “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
Mr Samuel Atuahene Antwi, a Public Health Officer, in-charge of Nutrition at the Tema Metro Health Directorate, representing the Director of Health Services, stated that there was the need to have a sustainable response to the reduction in logistical support in funding for HIV.
Mr Antwi stated that there have been some disruptions in the funding of activities due to the cut in funding by the American government, adding that despite that, Ghana must not go back to high prevalence.
He said Ghana was getting new infections, as people were thinking that just as COVID-19 infections slowed down, the same was with HIV, adding that people were not taking precautions to prevent new infections.
He expressed worry over the high level of stigmatisation among the people, as it prevents people from coming forward to know their status, thereby spreading the virus.
Mr Antwi reminded the public that testing positive was not the end of the world, as a lot of reactive patients were surviving perfectly on medication, with some reaching an undetectable state.
“People who tested positive lost sales and jobs because of stigma,” he said, adding that stigma dampened the spirit of patients and served as a barrier to testing.
He urged health institutions to come up with innovative ways to intensify education on the virus to help curb the spread.
Ms Joan Anorkor Lartey, the Tema Metro Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB/HIV) Coordinator, said the health directorate has started HIV screening at all entry points in both public and private health facilities to help in early detection.
Ms Lartey explained that this meant that the public could have free HIV tests at the outpatient department (OPD), antenatal, and all other departments.
“We want to make testing readily available without fear. People must take advantage to know their status; they can also use the self-testing kits to check their status,” she said.
Ms Annalina Heighty, the officer in charge of the Anti-Retroviral Treatment Centre (ART), Manhean Polyclinic, revealed that there were currently 600 active reactive patients on treatment in the area, with 150 mothers on treatment under the preventive mother-to-child transmission.
Mr Keren-Happuch Monney, Public Health Nurse in-charge at the Manhean Polyclinic, stressed the need to prioritise preventive HIV measures while reiterating the need-to-know one’s status to guide their lifestyle.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade