The Okaikwei North Municipality joined other Municipalities in Ghana last Friday to observe the 2022 World AIDS Day. December 1, is observed globally as World AIDS Day to draw public attention to the disease. In Ghana, the day was marked on the theme: “20 years of Multi-sectorial HIV response” to highlight the insolvent of various stakeholders in curbing the spread of the disease. Speaking at the programme the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Honourable Boye Laryea, disclosed that over four thousand people are living with the disease in the Municipality. “The estimated number of persons living with HIV within our Municipality is about four thousand two hundred and eighty seven (4,287) representing about 19 percent of the total population in the Municipality” he said. Honourable Laryea explained that currently, the disease is not the preserve of only some people with certain perceived lifestyles. He stated that even children through mother to child infection are being affected by the disease and as such there was the need for all to take keen interest in the disease. He bemoaned the situation where people who have the disease deliberately spread it to their unsuspecting sexual partners. The Okaikwei North MCE questioned the practice where only women check their status while their male counterparts seemed not bother. He urged the gathering to abstaining from sex if possible, being faithful to one partner or using the condom during sexual intercourse. Honourable Laryea urged all to abide by the aforementioned rules to “protect ourselves, ourselves and our families”. The day coincided with a free screening exercise for the traders of the Lapaz new market and its surrounding communities. Ms. Khadija Ali, a Public Nurse and HIV Coordinator for the Municipality led a team of nurses to screen over two hundred market women. The participants took advantage of the exercise to be screened for their HIV/AIDS status, malaria, Body Mass Index while others took the COVID 19 jabs. Present at the ceremony were Assembly members, Heads of Departments of the Assembly, management of ONMA, staff of the Assembly among others.
