MORE MEN over 50 are contracting HIV.
And it is of concern to Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development Steve Blackett, who wants that group to be included in the educational initiatives related to HIV.
“Older persons should not be overlooked, excluded or denied access to information pertaining to HIV but, like all other age groups, should be provided with opportunities to acquire this information,” Blackett said at the opening ceremony of a seminar targeting men over 50 years.
Organised by the National Assistance Board under the theme Men In Control, Not HIV, the seminar is being held at Accra Beach Hotel, Rockley, Christ Church.
Blackett, who gave statistics from the HIV National Strategic Plan 2008-2013, said that of the HIV cases for the period 1984 to 2006, the fastest growing category was 50 years and over; while in 2005 and 2006, of the newly diagnosed cases, 79 per cent were in that age group.
The minister said there was a perception locally and globally that older adults were not sexually active and should not be preoccupied with issues related to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Blackett said when people thought of populations most affected by HIV, older people were often the last to come to mind. He added that according to the HIV National Health Surveillance, men continued to dominate the number of AIDS-related deaths in the island; hence the call of the HIV National Strategic Plan 2014-2018 for a gender focused approach to HIV.
Chairman of the National Assistant Board, Senator Dr David Durant, who referred to information discussed at the recently held research symposium of the National HIV/ AIDS Commission, pointed to the high percentage of people – over 40 per cent – who had never had an HIV test.
“Based on this disclosure, these inactions and laissez faire attitudes have implications for the treatment and control of the HIV epidemic,” he said.
Durant encouraged the men at the seminar to use the knowledge they gained to make wise, rational decisions that could safeguard their health, especially during the month of February, which is celebrated as the month of love. (LK)
