Educate peers on HIV/AIDS - Dr Apedzi charges youth
The Chief Executive of St John Ambulance Ghana, Dr Anthony Kwame Apedzi, has charged the youth to sensitise their peers to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
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He said advances in the treatment of the disease had led many people to forget that the disease still exists hence the need to remind their peers about its prevalence.
Dr Apedzi was speaking to staff and volunteers of the organisation who participated in a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme held in collaboration with the Ghana Aids Commission.
The CPD is a vital initiative aimed at equipping the staff of St. John Ambulance-Ghana and volunteers with the latest knowledge and strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
It formed part of activities lined up to commemorate the 87th Anniversary of St John Ambulance, Ghana.
Improve
Dr Apedzi called on members of the organisation to support the commission to improve public health.
“As health educators, we need to join hands with the Ghana Aids Commission to help in their effort to enhance public health awareness and professional competence in managing HIV/AIDS,” he said.
Dr Apedzi thanked the Ghana AIDS Commission for coming on board to undertake the training and emphasised the critical role of healthcare professionals in the fight against HIV/AIDS.That, he said, was particularly in raising awareness, educating communities and promoting prevention, especially among the youth who might underestimate the threat of the disease.
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He encouraged participants to use the training to enhance their skills, share experiences and work together to make a meaningful impact in combating HIV/AIDS.
The Director of Technical Services of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Fred Nana Poku, commended the partnership between the two organisations and reiterated the commission's commitment to supporting initiatives that promoted HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
As an HIV/AIDS expert and specialist, he briefed participants about the mandate of the commission and further gave an in-depth exploration of the causes of HIV/AIDS, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of how the virus is transmitted.
Dr Poku revealed that HIV remained a significant public health concern in Ghana, with around 40 new infections daily and over 12,000 deaths annually from AIDS-related illnesses.
Sexual transmission accounts for 80 per cent of new infections, and women are disproportionately affected, comprising 65 per cent of those living with HIV.
Advancements
Despite treatment advancements, the financial burden of managing the virus is substantial, costing Ghana Ghc100 million annually.
However, only 65 per cent of the population has tested for HIV while 69 per cent of those infected are on medication.
Dr Poku said while HIV medication could not cure the virus, it played a critical role in managing health and preventing progression to AIDS.
When HIV is left untreated, it attacks the immune system, leading to the more severe AIDS stage. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps to weaken the virus, preventing it from multiplying and reaching the AIDS stage.
Additionally, when patients reach the suppression stage, the medication can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
Dr Poku said there were two types of preventive drugs used for HIV and they were Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) which is taken before exposure to HIV to prevent infection and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) also taken immediately after exposure to HIV to prevent infection.
After taking participants through the usage of the HIV Self-Test Kits, Dr Nana Poku presented boxes of HIV self-test kits and condoms on behalf of the Ghana AIDS Commission to the CEO of St. John Ambulance-Ghana to be distributed among all participants.
The CPD workshop is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals and first aid responders in Ghana.
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The agency plans to organise similar events in the future to address other critical health topics.
The seminar covered crucial areas such as causes, prevention, infection statistics and management of the disease to equip them accordingly.