A sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS has been organised for media practitioners to beef up their reportage on the HIV/AIDS menace in the society.

The programme under the theme, "Reducing Stigmatization and Discrimination of 'PLWHA' [people living with HIV/AIDS] and Promoting Workplace Response", was also to brainstorm on strategies to adopt in informing and educating people on HIV/AIDS, and to seek media advice on how to carry out an effective anti-HIV/AIDS campaign.

It was organised by Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) and the Ghana AIDS Commission with technical support from Family Health International, and sponsored by USAID.

Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs appealed to the media to participate effectively in the crusade against HIV/AIDS by teaching the public to take necessary steps to prevent HIV infection.

He said the media should interact regularly with HIV/AIDS advocate organisations to update themselves and the general public as well.

He said even though a country's prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS becomes critical at 5% and Ghana's stands at 3.6%, it should not be given the chance to climb up or else it would spell doom for the nation.

Prof. Sakyi Amoa, Director-General of Ghana AIDS Commission said a study has proved that 90 to 99% of the population is aware of HIV/AIDS, but the problem is with behavioural change.

He said most people fail to implement what they know and rather do the contrary.

He said because of the stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS victims, most diagnosed victims prefer to remain silent and secret. Most people have a negative judgmental attitude towards them, believing that the majority of the patients are immoral.

He said we have made the world a hostile environment for them and called for "better deliverance of treatment just as we render to those living with ordinary diseases".

Dr. Ofori, Eastern Region Co-ordinator for HIV/AIDS, said at the end of last year, about 40million cases of children and adults living with the AIDS virus were recorded world wide, with 28.1 million dwelling in sub-Saharan Africa.

He attributed the disease in sub-Saharan Africa to poverty, conflict situation and bad behaviour of men that put women at risk.

He said Ghana clinically recorded over 52,961 people with AIDS in 2001. Ashanti Region had the highest of 13023 followed by the Eastern Region and the least being in the Upper West Region 719.

Dr. Osei Boeh Ocansey, Director-General of PEF suggested to the Ghana AIDS Commission to identify and document best practices in workplace HIV/AIDS programmes and others for prevention, care and mitigation.