First Lady, H.E. Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, visited Sunyani on Thursday to organise a community health screening exercise in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission.
This was the second in a series of such collaborations, the first having taken place in Accra.
In an address before the start of the screening, Mrs Mahama encouraged traditional and religious leaders to leverage their respected positions to promote healthy and responsible behaviour within their communities.
The First Lady noted that Ghana remains committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, a goal she said is achievable if every individual plays their part.
“Parents must engage in open and honest conversations with their children about health and sexuality,” she stressed, urging teachers to guide students with care, wisdom, and accurate information to help eliminate the stigma surrounding HIV.
Currently, over 334,000 Ghanaians are living with HIV, with the Bono Region among the most affected areas. The First Lady described this as a serious concern and called for education, prevention, and early testing to curb new infections.
As President of the Lordina Foundation, Mrs Mahama emphasised that health is the foundation of development. “Without good health, productivity suffers, and building vibrant communities becomes difficult,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of health screening programmes, she added: “I love bringing health services closer to people because when we invest in health, we invest in our collective future.”
Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Budu II, Dormaahene and President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, expressed concern over the rising HIV cases in the Bono Region in recent years, particularly among people aged 25 to 40.
He described the screening programme as a crucial health initiative rather than a political exercise, encouraging all attendees to take advantage of the testing and educational resources provided.
Sister Diana, who has been living with HIV since 1989, shared her experience battling stigma due to limited awareness. She emphasised that with proper care and monitoring, people living with HIV can lead healthy lives.
“My children’s support gave me strength,” she said, “and motivated me to educate others as an ambassador for HIV awareness.”
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