HIV test kits ‘short’ in Volta Region

There is shortage of HIV testing kits in the Volta Region, a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the National HIV and AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Policy in Ho was told on Monday.

Information about the shortage came up when some of the participants opted to undergo HIV testing.

The meeting was organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission to afford the public the opportunity to discuss the policy and to offer their views on it.

Mr Godwin Ampony, National AIDS Programme Coordinator of the E.P. Church, Ghana, said the GHS could not supply his outfit with the testing kits since December 2012.

Mr Divine Nuworsu, Supply Officer at the Volta Regional Medical Stores, told the Ghana News Agency that the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) has sent an E-mail to the Regional HIV Co-ordinator to come to Accra today, Tuesday to collect a consignment of the testing kits.

Mr Divine Azameti, Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ghana Health Service, Volta Region explained that the HIV testing kits and other drugs such as those for poliomyelitis and anti-snake serum could not be bought from the open market because “these are programme drugs.”

He said such drugs and kits have to be kept under strict environmental conditions to ensure their efficacy.

Source; GNA