No HIV Outbreak At Ho Technical University– GHS
The Volta Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Services (GHS) has dispelled rumours making rounds on social media platforms that there is an alleged outbreak of an HIV infection at Ho Technical University (HTU).
The Ghana Health Services, in a press statement issued by the acting Volta Regional Director, Dr.Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, said there is no such incident and therefore, called on the public to disregard it, because it was “false and unfounded.”
According to the statement, the directorate’s attention had been drawn to an online publication by “an unverified and unknown news portal ‘ajnewonline.com” with the headline “Hookup Trend Leads to HIV Outbreak at Ho Technical University: Over 400 students suspected positive.”
It noted that the publication had subsequently been quoted by various social media actors without any form of due diligence, hence must be disregarded by the general public.
Dr. Djokoto said a review of the HIV testing data in all the health facilities in the Ho Municipality and the rest of the Volta Region do not suggest an increase in recorded HIV cases within any facility or the region.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the region states emphatically that there has not been a surge of HIV cases in the Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region.”
He said the directorate had over the period successfully implemented several strategies to fight HIV/AIDS, which sought to reduce new infections by 85 percent and eliminate mother-to-child transmission.
Dr. Djokoto urged inhabitants to avoid stigmatization and fully lend themselves to the disease awareness campaigns and tailor-made services that met their specific needs to consolidate the gains made in HIV prevention, testing and treatment.
In a separate development, Dr. Christopher K. Amehoe, Registrar, Ho Technical University, said the University’s Health Service had no such information on the university as published.
He advised the public to desist from sharing the false publication since it had the potential of damaging the hard-won image and reputation of the Institution.
Dr.Amehoe noted that the management of the university shall institute legal action against any person sharing the said false publication.
Below Is Published, The Full Statement:
FALSE REPORTAGE ON THE HIV INCIDENCE IN THE HO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
The attention of the Volta Regional Health Directorate has been drawn to an online publication by an unverified and unknown news portal ‘ajnewonline.com’ with the headline “Hookup Trend Leads to HIV Outbreak at Ho Technical University: Over 400 students suspected positive”.
The publication has subsequently been quoted by various social media actors without any form of due diligence.
The Regional Health Directorate by this release is informing the public to disregard the said publication since it is false and unfounded.
A review of the HIV testing data in all the health facilities in the Ho Municipality and the rest of the Volta Region does not suggest an increase in recorded HIV cases within any facility or the Region as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the region states emphatically that there has not been a surge of HIV cases in the Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region.
The Volta Regional Health Directorate and its partners have over the period successfully implemented several strategies to fight HIV/AIDS. These strategies seek to reduce new infections by 85% and eliminate mother-to-child transmission.
The Region however encourages its inhabitants to avoid stigmatization and fully lend themselves to the disease awareness campaigns and tailor-made services that meet their specific needs so as to consolidate the gains made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. HIV services are available in all private and public health facilities in the Volta Region.
The public is assured that their right to privacy and confidentiality will always be upheld as is the case in all disease conditions.
In conclusion, let us take note that HIV is still real, and all must endeavor to live positively through sexual abstinence or by both uninfected partners being faithful to each other, and by the consistent use of condoms.
Source: Anchorghana.com
