Ghana: Journalists Undergo HIV and AIDS Training

In Ghana's Northern Region, approximately 50 people -- journalists and medical practitioners -- recently completed a three-day training on HIV and AIDS to equip them with the knowledge to effectively report on preventing the spread of the disease. The training was part of the government's National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2011-2015 aimed at reducing by half the spread of HIV and AIDS -- especially through mother-to-child transmission -- to eventually stop new infections. The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) organized the training in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association. Topics included "The National Response to HIV and AIDS: Progress and Challenges" and "NSP 2011-2015: Towards Achieving Universal Access to Comprehensive HIV Services."

Dr. Joseph Amuzu, Director of Policy and Planning at GAC, underscored the need for effective education about the spread of HIV and AIDS to eliminate the disease. He provided statistics on prevalence: the total number of HIV cases was 217,428; the number of HIV-positive children was 31,576; the number of HIV-positive pregnant women was 12,854, and the number of new HIV infections annually for adults stood at 8,925 and for children at 2,933. Dr. Amuzu emphasized that GAC recognizes the valuable contributions of the media to attaining NSP 2011-2015 goals. Other speakers applauded the training, saying it would enable journalists, the media, and physicians to accurately report on the disease, and called on journalists to produce critical stories that will help curb the spread of the disease. The training inspired 34 journalists to get tested for HIV.

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