Celestina Andoh, the Co-Founder and Executive Secretary of the International Women Empowerment Network (IWEN-Ghana), has called on women’s groups to actively support the fight against the stigmatization of People living with HIV (PLHIV).
In a recent interview with JoyNews in Sunyani, the Bono regional capital, Ms. Andoh emphasized the importance of women’s involvement in public education on HIV and AIDS. She urged women to collaborate with health officials to launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign to help curb the spread of the disease.
Ms. Andoh highlighted the critical role of women in society, stating that they cannot be ignored if Ghana is serious about combating any epidemic effectively. She stressed the need to address stigmatization and discrimination against PLHIV to prevent them from concealing their status and unknowingly spreading the disease.
The Executive Secretary of IWEN-Ghana emphasized the significance of ending stigmatization to achieve the goal of eliminating HIV and AIDS by 2030. She pointed out that some individuals have lived healthy lives for over 15 years after testing positive for HIV, underscoring the importance of eliminating stigma.
Ms. Andoh urged the public to treat HIV and AIDS like any other chronic disease, such as Tuberculosis, diabetes, or hypertension, to promote acceptance and support for those living with the virus. She also encouraged individuals to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and advised the youth to avoid risky sexual behavior to prevent HIV infection.
