1st December is designated as World AIDS Day! This day offers an opportunity for people to unite in the response to HIV and AIDS, to remember those who have died of the disease and also celebrate accomplishments such as increased access to HIV treatment and prevention services.
This year’s World AIDS Day Celebration fell on Sunday, 1st December, 2024. The Municipal AIDS Committee of the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Municipal Health Directorate commemorated the day with series of public engagements across the municipality. The theme for the celebration was “Ending AIDS Together; Stepping up Prevention Efforts”.
The Committee engaged the public through the NOPRAS FM radio station and selected Community Information Centers to create public awareness of the disease. Senior High schools were educated on HIV/AIDS with emphasis on the preventive measures by the usage of condom and eliminating new infections. Congregations from selected mosques and churches were also admonished to discipline themselves against indiscriminate sexual conducts to avoid contracting the disease and the need for everyone to know their status by visiting the various health centers occasionally to test for free.
Free Health Screening at Old Tafo Market
On Wednesday 4th December, 2024, the Committee in collaboration with Ghana Health Services and some Assembly staff held a free health screening at the Old Tafo Market, where the general public were screen for HIV/AIDS, including Glucose, Blood Pressure and Body Mass.
On behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga, the Christian Representative on the Committee, Rev. Isaac Ofori Asirifi addressed the gathering and emphasized on the high prevalence rate of the virus in the Eastern Region and the country as a whole. He advised the public to avoid stigmatizing People Living with HIV(PLHIV) so that they will fill accepted in society.
The Community Health Nurse officer from Osiem, Mr. Richard Ntim, indicated that the increasing number of infected cases in the county is worrying and urged the youth in active sexual practices to resort to the use of condom. The general public were encouraged to get tested to know their status and those infected to seek for medication support.
Condom Distribution
Condom promotion and distribution was carried out by a team of officers from the Health Directorate and the Municipal Assembly who engaged drivers and ‘Okada’ riders at the Tafo lorry station. Quantities of condoms were distributed to the general public as a way of creating awareness of the disease. The Committee looks forward to engaging more people on the disease to end AIDS.
Mamatta Alhassan Abdullai
Focal Person