Stigmatization of HIV Patients by Medical Staff Increase in Ashanti Region

Health experts have discovered high levels of stigmatization against HIV patients by medical staff at the various health institutions in Ashanti Region.

Emergency and Out-Patient Department attendants also suffer similar retreatment.

The revelation contradicts public education by health workers to relatives of HIV patients to show them love.

The survey was carried out on 268 HIV patients in five hospitals.

They include Obuasi Government, Edwin Cade Memorial, Bekwai Municipal, Suntreso and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals.

Local NGO, Hope for Future Generation, which undertook the initiative sought to ascertain challenges of people living with HIV in the region.

Suntreso Government and Komfo Anokye Hospitals were ranked first and second most friendly respectively, with Obuasi Government Hospital as the last.

The findings again indicate patients wish they were injected rather than given oral medication.

Daniel Ampong who is Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Hope for Future disclosed, the findings indicate health personnel extort money from patients.

A Nursing officer at Komfo Anokye Hospital, Agnes Owusu Bempah, proposed free or reduced cost of laboratory charges for patients.

Stakeholders also want HIV treatment to be covered by National Health Insurance Scheme.

Project Coordinator, Roseline Lodonu, points out, it is the way to go to ease the burden of patients and their relatives.

Source: Myjoyonline