Mr. Mark Woyongo
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16th November, 2011
WISE COUNSEL FROM WOYONGO
A few days ago, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, was reported to have challenged the nation’s highly skilled population, including Ministers of State, parliamentarians, politicians, lawyers and doctors, among other professionals, to go for HIV/AIDS tests, to know their status.
According to him, though enormous efforts had been made by the government and its agencies to contain the disease which has assumed public health status, the fight against it, has faced a number of daunting challenges.
“It is only when we do not make it look as if it is only the poor and the vulnerable whom the disease affects, that we can decisively deal with the stigma, denial and discrimination associated with it,” he stressed.
The minister, who was addressing a workshop on HIV/AIDS at Bolgatanga, pointed out that, “even though as a country, we have been able to fairly manage all other challenges associated with the disease, stigma and discrimination remain the biggest challenge affecting our resolve to fight the pandemic”.
There are people who would regard the minister’s challenge as reckless and unmerited statement; but for the Times, he has given a wise counsel because it is such groups of people who sometimes lead promiscuous lives.
They believe that with their high status in society, there is no way they can contract the disease since to them, the disease only affects the youth who mostly indulge in illicit sex.
It is important to remind such people that, the disease knows no boundaries and can affect any individual or person, regardless of his or her status in society.
It is common to hear some of our self-styled men of God being caught in adulterous relationships and raping innocent girls and women in their churches, without thinking of the consequences.
The 2010 National AIDS Control Programme Report indicates that about 272,000 people are living with the virus, out of whom only 30 per cent are on treatment.
That is why it is important that the public is made aware of, and appreciates the benefits of getting tested for the disease.
When people know their status early enough, they can take good care of themselves, while those who have unfortunately contracted the virus can seek counselling and access treatment.
We need to intensify public education in this regard, because AIDS is not just a health problem but a developmental issue as well.
According to him, though enormous efforts had been made by the government and its agencies to contain the disease which has assumed public health status, the fight against it, has faced a number of daunting challenges.
“It is only when we do not make it look as if it is only the poor and the vulnerable whom the disease affects, that we can decisively deal with the stigma, denial and discrimination associated with it,” he stressed.
The minister, who was addressing a workshop on HIV/AIDS at Bolgatanga, pointed out that, “even though as a country, we have been able to fairly manage all other challenges associated with the disease, stigma and discrimination remain the biggest challenge affecting our resolve to fight the pandemic”.
There are people who would regard the minister’s challenge as reckless and unmerited statement; but for the Times, he has given a wise counsel because it is such groups of people who sometimes lead promiscuous lives.
They believe that with their high status in society, there is no way they can contract the disease since to them, the disease only affects the youth who mostly indulge in illicit sex.
It is important to remind such people that, the disease knows no boundaries and can affect any individual or person, regardless of his or her status in society.
It is common to hear some of our self-styled men of God being caught in adulterous relationships and raping innocent girls and women in their churches, without thinking of the consequences.
The 2010 National AIDS Control Programme Report indicates that about 272,000 people are living with the virus, out of whom only 30 per cent are on treatment.
That is why it is important that the public is made aware of, and appreciates the benefits of getting tested for the disease.
When people know their status early enough, they can take good care of themselves, while those who have unfortunately contracted the virus can seek counselling and access treatment.
We need to intensify public education in this regard, because AIDS is not just a health problem but a developmental issue as well.
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