HIV EDUCATION AND SCREENING (KNOWN YOUR STATUS) AT APUTUOGYA, KUNTANASE AND JACHIE

As part of effort to improve quality health service to the populace, a team from the Health Directorate and District Assembly involved themselves to sensitize the market traders on the killer beast and threat to the lives of humanity which is HIV/AIDS. The main purpose for this program was to enable the market traders in the Bosomtwe District to know their HIV status, identify those who have been infected, refer for treatment and also to educate the people on how to stay safe.

Human immunodeficiency virus HIV infection is an acquired infection. HIV renders persons vulnerable to other life - threatening infection. In its serious state, it results in HIV syndrome known as Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS. It was of this reason that the HEALTH TALK ON HIV/AIDS and KNOW YOUR STATUS program was organised at Aputuogya, Kuntanase and Jachie Market for three (3) days to enable traders know their HIV status and also how to stay safe. The programme started on Tuesday, 22nd November, 2022 and ended on Thursday, 25th November, 2022.

The team that made the programme success was made up of eight members; DISTRICT HEALTH DIRECTOR, DISTRICT PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE, PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE, ASSEMBLY HIV FOCAL PERSON, HEALTH PROMOTION OFFICERS, REGISTERED GENERAL NURSE, DATA MANAGER HIV and M&V FOCAL PERSON.

In all, a total of 272 traders were tested and they were between the ages of 23-57 years. Out of the 272 traders tested 5 were reactive to the first response and they were referred to St. Michael's Hospital for confirmation and management. Participants were taken through additional test such as blood pressure and temperature and others.