NGO OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN HIV/AIDS MANAGEMENT (PAGE 23)

A Tamale-based NGO, the Social Change Advisory Network (SCAN), is building the capacity of some community-based organisations in the Northern Region to effectively deal with the HIV/AIDS menace in their respective communities.
The aim of the exercise is to help the organisations to reassess the effectiveness of the various methods and strategies being used in the fight against the disease, and how to provide proper care and support for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in their localities.
The Programme Director of SCAN, Mr Sayibu Mahamoud Sule, who was speaking at one of such capacity building workshops in the Tamale Metropolis, said there was lack of adequate information and training for most organisations engaged in HIV/AIDS programmes.
The workshop participants included members of Abarayo, a community-based organisation in the East Gonja District, with sponsorship from a Danish-funded international NGO, Ibis-Ghana.
Among the topics discussed at the three-day workshop were: HIV/AIDS and Development—Basic Facts and Experiences in Ghana, Knowledge and Skills Enhancement for Behaviour Change and Enhancing Target Groups’ Mobilisation, Skills and Action Planning.
The director stressed the urgent need for the establishment of HIV/AIDS peer education clubs in schools and at all communities, ‘‘considering the high poverty levels, the vulnerability of the youth, and the stigma attached to PLWHA in our localities.’’
Mr Sule also entreated policy makers and implementers to always involve people in decision-making, especially those concerning their health and livelihood for sustainability and better results.
‘‘Past experiences suggest that decentralisation will not work without vibrant, participatory communities and civil society groups,’’ he stated.
Mr Sule further explained that it was for that reason that, ‘‘SCAN seeks to empower the people to give them voices to advocate for change to accelerate development.’’
Ms Ayishetu Iddi, on behalf of her colleagues, expressed appreciation to the management of SCAN for the training and pledged to make the knowledge acquired beneficial to the people.