GAC lauds Ghanaian media for promoting AIDS-free society
Dr. Angela El-Adas, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has stated that one of the profitable investments of the Commission was its frequent interactions with the media.
She said through such interactions, media personnel were well equipped with the right kind of information that aided them to generate quality reportage about the activities of the Commission and the celebration of major events such as the World AIDS Day.
Dr. El-Adas stated this during one of such interactions with the media ahead of the 2013 World AIDS Day Celebration slated for Wa on Monday December 2.
The day which is to be celebrated in Ghana under the sub-theme: “Getting to Zero: Accelerating the national HIV response towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” is to emphasize more on the country’s determination to meet the targets by 2015.
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of the GAC is expected to address a durbar at the Wa Jubilee Park to climax the celebration of the day.
Dr. El-Adas said the day reminded them of the devastating impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on the nation and also enabled them to reflect on their contributions and commitments to a sustained response to HIV and AIDS.
She said a key component of the Commission was advocacy and that the media had so far partnered very well with the Commission in that direction but acknowledged that there still remained a lot to be done.
Dr. Alexis Nang-beifubah, Upper West Regional Director of Health Services noted that the prevalence rate of the disease in the region was low and attributed it to a 100 percent awareness rate.
Dr. Alexis who was however worried about a few negative attitudes towards the spread of the disease also commended the Heart-to-Heart Ambassadors for their effort towards reducing both stigmatization and spread of the disease.
Sualah Abdul-Wahab, Upper West Regional Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) thanked the Commission for making the media a part of its activities and urged his colleagues to focus on demystifying the stigma associated with the disease.
Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh, Upper West Regional Minister commended the local organizing committee for the efforts put in so far towards making the national celebration of the day in the region a big success.
Source: GNA