First Deputy Minority Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tolon in the Northern Region, Habib Iddrisu, has proposed that HIV/AIDS testing should be made a mandatory part of recruitment processes in both public and private organisations.
The Tolon legislature suggested this in a recent data from the Ministry of Health showing a concerning rise in HIV/AIDS infections across the country.
According to him, this calls for stronger action.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, December 18, the MP said “making HIV/AIDS testing a requirement for employment would help individuals know their status early and begin treatment before the spread of the virus.”
He believes that including HIV testing in job-related health screenings will reduce the spread of the disease, improve contact tracing, and ensure timely medical intervention.
Mr Iddrisu, further called on the “government and non-governmental organisations to make treatment easily available and free for those who test positive.”
He stressed that this would reduce stigma and encourage more people to get tested.
“I think it should be part of the requirements in every organisation in Ghana. If you want to be given a job opportunity, you should be allowed to be tested.
“HIV test should be part of the health screening so that we will be able to know,” he disclosed.
Source: Benedicta Quaye
