“Young people have lost touch with HIV” – Verifie Health CEO warns youth over virus’ rise

Radio Univers
Radio Univers
4 Min Read

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Verifie Health Limited, Alexander Quaisie has admonished the youth to heed to warnings concerning the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with relation to the rise of the viral condition’s spread.

High rates of the HIV were recently recorded by the Ghana Aids Commission this year in the Ashanti Region, where it was indicated that over 70,000 people live with the disease with a majority of them being either unaware of their status or having defaulted on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

In an interview on Campus Exclusive, Mr. Quaisie was of the view that rise in HIV contractions could be attributed to the youth becoming gradually unconcerned about the virus, hence advising people to be cautious of the danger.

He also admonished individuals against stigmatising people HIV patients, after which he called for more sensitisation on the condition.

“We all, especially the health professionals should propagate the message of HIV. The youth have lost touch with the virus and they think that the virus is not close to them. Unfortunately, it is close to everyone and it is something that we should all be conscious about while we take preventive measures.”

“You realise that there is a lot of stigmatization, a lot of discrimination and people are still being misinformed about the virus. The more information we put out there, the more people will be educated to desist from discrimination. The fact that you have tested negative now does not mean that you do not stand a chance of acquiring the virus.”

Mr. Quaisie falsified the perception that sex is the only way to contract HIV and enlisted some commonly ignored ways of transmitting the virus.

“Highlighting sexual intercourse as the only way of transmitting HIV is a wrong perception. It is one of the major ways of contracting the virus however the virus can be transmitted through various means. Some people are born with it, others get cut by unsterilized sharp objects used by infected persons, oral sex, and blood transfusion among others.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Quaisie stressed the need for individuals who test positive for HIV to pay key attention to their treatment advising affected individuals to avoid ‘herbal’ drugs usually peddled to be a cure for HIV.

According to him, anti-retroviral medication is the only effective way to manage the virus. He added that an HIV diagnosis does not define anyone and is not a death sentence.

“As of now, there is no cure for HIV. If you hear someone say that they have herbal tea or drugs that [kills] the virus, it is not true. The only effective means is the antiretroviral therapy, which acts to bring the virus under control. If you are diagnosed with HIV, it is not the end of your life and it does not define you. You can live a normal life with HIV so long as you stick to your medication.”

In his conclusion, he encouraged all individuals to get to know their HIV status and take precautionary measures to reduce their chances of contracting the virus.

Story by: Michelle Lartey | univers.ug.edu.gh

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