Ghanaians asked to be wary of quack doctors

Mrs. Francisca Atsyro, a Senior Nursing Officer at the Mambrobi Polyclinic in Accra, cautioned Ghanaians against patronising the services of quack doctors, especially those who administer injections with the same syringe. She said such practices contributed to the spread of ailments, especially HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhoea and other venereal diseases. Mrs Atsyro was speaking at the end of a three-day educational training programme on "combating HIV/AIDS," for 45 members of the Maritime and Dockworkers Union of the Trades Union Congress, in Tema at the weekend The event that was organised by MDU and sponsored by the Ghana AIDS Commission sensitised participants on HIV/AIDS to enable them to educate their colleagues and the public on the disease. Mrs. Atsyro dismissed the notion that such programmes promoted prostitution and sexual promiscuity, saying it rather helped in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other venereal diseases. She urged them to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS and reminded the public that there was no known cure to the disease. Mr. Kwabena Owusu Afriyie, General Secretary of the Union, said members were strategically placed to educate the public on HIV/AIDS because many people converged at the ports and harbours to do business.