In order to encourage more voluntary testing among residents, this reporter suggested to the health official on the need to have more HIV/AIDS testing centres in town. To this he replied that if the people won’t come to the hospital where there is privacy and free counselling, and they won’t patronise such facilities as this time round, everyone will know they are going in for the HIV/AIDS test and that’ll result in they being mocked and stigmatised, even if they are negative.

In an interview with Seidu Fataw, he tested for it because he was a volunteer peer counsellor and since then, he’s not tested again. Another young lady interviewed suggested that NGOs should collaborate with the Ghana AIDS Commission and organise more HIV/AIDS workshops. These workshops should be for only one day but at the end of it, everyone is encouraged to test there and then instead of asking them to come to the hospital later. Those who are positive can be isolated and counselled. She further added that this was how she tested for the virus.

The test was administered orally and the result was ready in less than ten minutes. Another health official who’ll only speak off camera agreed that it is a better option. She also added that the testing equipment is provided free of charge, in addition, nurses are given to accompany them to help with the testing. Further more, she singled out the Dorcas Foundation, an NGO based in Tamale, for doing a great work among widows and single mothers in and around Tamale, Nalerigu, Moglaa and other remote villages, providing them with free counselling and testing. When this reporter probed further, she said that she has been invited several times to their workshops.

To NGOs like the Dorcas Foundation, one can only say keep it up. We can only pray that there will be a change in beliefs and attitude so more people will go for voluntary testing. If for nothing at all, the data can be used to accurately know the prevalent rate and also those infected can get early treatment.