�Condoms Are Used For Swimming�

Latest findings by health professionals indicate that residents in a number of rural communities dotted around the country have no idea what condoms are used for, despite the acclaimed widespread education on their use. Stakeholders in the past have often pointed out that condom use was one of the indicators accounting for a reduction in the number of new HIV/AID infections in the country. This has however been proven otherwise as some residents are yet to catch a glimpse of condoms, with varying views regarding its usage, during an interaction with health professionals who took part in conducting the survey. According to the survey conducted in 2012, some respondents were believed that condoms are worn during swimming to prevent urinary tract infection, or used as earrings as well as to set fire. This has raised concerns about Ghana�s ability to combat HIV/AIDS, a major requirement of the Millennium Development Goal 6 (MDG 6) by 2015. Some respondents, it was uncovered, did not even know how and what a condom looks like, causing health personnel, who indicate that the adoption and usage of condom is one of the major was to combating the HIV/AIDS, to worry. The Upper East Regional Deputy Director in charge of Public Health, Dr. James Akpable, who disclosed this at the 2012 Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Performance Review Meeting, underscored the need to intensify efforts in the education on condom use. He noted that the misconception about the use of condom was due to illiteracy, reasons for which concerted efforts were required to enable the country to meet it�s MDG6 of combating HIV/AIDS. On the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the region, he noted that there had been a significant decline but cautioned against complacency and urged the youth in the region to be mindful of their conduct. Dr. Akpable also disclosed that health personnel in the region under the year in review were able to significantly reduce mother-to-child transmission. He bemoaned the inability of health facilities in the region to operate in full capacity with regard to laboratory investigations, such as liver function tests, renal function tests and CD4 counts. He said this was inhibiting the proper monitoring of clients as well as quality healthcare delivery, appealing to the government to assist in this regard. Participants including medical superintendents, district directors, district TB/HIV coordinators and health information officers drawn from the various districts in the region pledged their unflinching support to contribute to the improvement of healthcare delivery in the region.