WORLD AIDS DAY HELD IN TAKORADI (PAGE 22, DEC 30, 2010)

IT was not for nothing that the 2010 World AIDS Day was held in Takoradi and the Western Region as a whole.
The reasons are that due to the discovery of oil and gas, the anticipation is that there would be an influx of people to Sekondi/Takoradi and the region in general.
The expectation is that there would be high population density in the twin-city and the region and an increase in the risk of HIV/AIDS infections.
The World AIDS Day was held on the theme: “Universal access and human rights: Action now.”
Available statistics indicate that the HIV/AIDS situation in the region is not encouraging and therefore, if appropriate intervention activities are not undertaken at the various workplaces and enterprises level, the negative effect may be too enormous to bear.
The regional HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has been erratic and cannot therefore be ignored as far as the effect of the HIV/AIDS virus is concerned.
For instance, in 2004, the region recorded a prevalence rate of 4.7 per cent as against 3.2 per cent in 2005.
In 2006, the prevalence rate rose to 4.3 per cent and with the unrelenting efforts by community based organisations (CBOs), non governmental organisations (NGOs), district assemblies and other agencies, it reduced to 3.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Unfortunately, the region recorded a 3.1 per cent prevalence rate in 2009, and what is more frightening is the unpleasant indication from the health sector report that the situation is likely to aggravate to much higher levels in 2010 and beyond if efforts at fighting the pandemic are not intensified.
Speaking at the function, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said that the choice of the region was not only because of the increase in the HIV incidence rate from 2.9 per cent in 2008 to 3.1 per cent in 2009, but also due to the fact that oil and gas had been found within the borders of the region.
He, therefore, said any negative impact that might arise from the oil and gas industry, as far as the behaviour of men and women was concerned, among others, would certainly have other telling effects on the regional economy before it trickled down to other parts of the country.
He said this year’s World AIDS Day should provide an opportunity for all individuals, communities and political leaders to take action towards making universal access a reality, adding that “it is also about increasing awareness, fighting, injustice and improving education.”
“On this day, we are filled with hope and concern. Hope because significant progress has been made towards universal access. Fewer children are born with HIV and a significant proportion of infected people are receiving treatment,” he stated.
Mr Aidoo said HIV/AIDS activities over the years had received strong political support from the national, regional and district levels, and down to the communities.
“I am, therefore, excited by the initiative of the Ghana AIDS Commission to deepen the knowledge of Ghanaians and find compelling solutions to confront any undesired situation when the production of the oil begins,” he said.
Mr Aidoo said it was important for people in the Western Region to prepare and plan against the challenges.
That, he said, could be achieved holistically when they all put their heads together to plan programmes and projects that would effectively deal with the HIV menace, while reducing its disastrous effects on the economy of the region.
“In line with this, management of ministries, departments and agencies, institutions and enterprises in the region are required to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on their workers, especially as it is reflected in such psychological manifestations as anger, depression, panic, blame, demoralisation and loss of direction, denial and sometimes tendencies resulting from stress,” he stressed.
Mr Aidoo urged them to formulate workplace policies and ensure that they were implemented to the benefit of their staff.
He said the protection of human rights was fundamental to combating the global HIV and AIDS menace, especially in Ghana, in view of the speculation of a higher incidence level due to the oil and gas find.
The Regional Minister stressed that the violation of human rights of people living with HIV, women and girls, men who had sex with men, injecting drug users and female sex workers, must therefore end.
He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council, through the Regional AIDS Committee, would also continue to provide the necessary leadership for the regional response and adopt an even more holistic strategy to respond to the pandemic in order to contribute significantly to the national response.
“Our resolve to prevent new infections and further reduce the current regional prevalence rate of 3.1 per cent must be nurtured to reality,” he emphasised.