The third week has continued to be a process of defining the "Problem". The Bible states "You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free". The Truth is that God is Good all the time and is in control. As I reflect on my own Life experience and the fact that abuse addiction and HIV are all apart of it, I know that God is able to change what appear to be liabilities into assets.

In defining the "Problem" in Ghana, certain facts seem to stand out:
1. The epidemic is still expanding as people refuse to believe that AIDS exists.
2. The numbers reflect [nearly 40,000 infected] and that is only the "Tip of the Iceberg."
3 Most people that are infected don't know they are infected; there is no "National Testing" program in place.
4. Triple digit inflation is crippling the government and preventing any substantial investment in getting education, prevention, and medical relief for the growing numbers of people already identified as infected with HIV.
5. There are only a few qualified doctors and health practitioners available to deal with HIV/AIDS effectively.
6. Even though the costs of HIV medicines have dropped, most Ghanaians still can not afford them.
7. The relationship between substance abuse, sexual behavior, and HIV has not been fully addressed.

Based on what we know, the "Solution" should include all of the following:
1. A comprehensive program of Education, focusing on "Prevention and Treatment".
2. Establishment of standardized testing.
3. Access to non governmental monies using non governmental organizations' "NGO" as a direct interface with the public for both information and treatment of HIV.
4. Cooperative Training with HIV experts from around the world for Ghana's doctors and other health care providers.
5. Affordable treatment and access to medicines and "Alternative Treatments".
6. Counseling and support for people before and after testing and long term support for people who are experiencing a problem using substances as well as HIV related issues.

Education being a top priority, "Vital International", a non government organization, [NGO] arranged a school presentation at a school in one of the poorest area's in Accra. There were an estimated 200 students, teachers and counselors present. The significance of this event lies in the fact that very few people in Ghana infected with the disease is willing to stand up and say they have the virus because of the stigma associated with it. Having done so in my own community, I had no problem discussing my experience "Living with AIDS".

The children had very good questions regarding prevention, and treatment of the disease and how to treat and live with someone who has HIV/AIDS. One little girl in particular stood out when she ask the question, "Is it possible to get infected with HIV if a girl 9 years old is being raped by a man with AIDS?" I told her "Yes," she can and probably will become infected. This is an example of how we, as educators, can be of service wherever we are in the global community. Vital International had two trained counselors present, in the persons of the schools "Head Master" and one of the teachers who had been recently trained. The girl did not say she was the one being raped, however, her need was clear. We needed to have many other opportunities to interact with the children but time did not permit it. A date at one of the local radio stations was canceled due to problems of transportation.

I took a short trip over the weekend to the beautiful "Volta River" area, where I had the most wonderful experience of taking a "day cruise" on a ship called the "Dodi Princess". It was just what I needed to maintain balance in my own recovery.

Upon returning I met with a number of people regarding information gathering for the "13th International Aids Conference" in Durban South Africa. Aid for Aids/Africa is providing a voice for the NGO's and government programs in Ghana and is acting as a conduit to facilitate the.solutions mentioned in the opening statements of this report. Aid for Aids/Africa is seeking help for itself as well, so it can continue to provide education, medicine and counseling to those who need it the most. Some of the people I had conversation with included the Ministry of Health, Program Manager for the National Aids Control Programme, Dr.Kwaku Yeboah, along with Founder and Program Director of "West African Aids Foundation" Edward Donton, and a. group of HIV and potential HIV doctors from Korle-Bu Training Hospital in Accra, President of "Vital International Foundation", Susan Ofri Mitchell and her staff.

Some of the highlights of the conversation with Dr. Yeboah, Eddie and myself included getting the latest statistics regarding Ghana in the year 1999. Collaborating treatment programs and testing programs with an HIV/AIDS Clinic at Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital in S. California via the "West African Aids Foundation" and the Clinic it is opening in July. Substance Abuse and the need for long term support for recovering addicts, and standardization of testing as many labs are not qualified to do testing for HIV, and the result is a lot of confusion and misdiagnosed patients.

Eddie and I also met with a group of doctors who are currently working at Korle-Bu Hospital and will also be working with Eddie at the "International Health Care Center", the clinic associated with "WAAF". Some of the concerns they addressed were regarding the lack of personal finance of their clients, seeing that even in government hospitals, all services for diagnoses and treatment are for fee, there are no services given with out cost. This situation has created a virtual nightmare for the doctors as they watch many people not being able to afford the proper testing or medications to diagnose and treat simple problems die. It is a problem in general not just with HIV cases. They were also concern that the people who have been able to afford to get tested don't get counseled before and after diagnoses and leave with little or no "Hope" of surviving. They were interested in the "Alternative Treatments" I use as they are much more affordable and available. We discussed them in detail and how with Eddie's organization along with "Vital International" a "Trial" to test the effectiveness of such "Alternative Treatments" might be put in place. We also discussed Aid for Aids/Africa supporting particular medical regiments as prescribed for a client by focusing on collecting those medications and keeping a steady supply going to the client when they could not afford it themselves.

When I return to the United States, I intend to continue the process or incorporation and select a "Board" to step up the fund-raising efforts to support the medical program to support both the HIV/AIDS medicines and also the medicines to treat opportunistic infections. Are there any possible Board members reading this report? If so, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Before leaving Ghana, I introduced Eddie of "WAAF" to Susan of "Vital International" for the purpose of working together for their common goals. Also, Educators and Counselors I know from the U.S. are coming to Ghana this summer and I have already given many of them contact numbers for both organizations. Each of them have also given me packages that detail their approach of dealing with HIV/Aids in Ghana to take to the conference in S. Africa. I look forward to a short visit with my family in Chicago over the 4th of July holiday, then returning to S. Africa for the conference. My next report will be from South Africa.

Contact numbers:
I can be contacted immediately by e-mail at Afotay@cs.com, or by phone when I return at [510] 839-2241. West African Aids Foundation, Mr. Edward Donton can be contacted at e-mail address: edonton@earthlink.com or Tel/Fax:: 011-233-21-761294; Vital International Foundation, Susan O. Mitchell at 011-233-024374627.

[Contact Maurice (Afotay@cs.com, or by phone when I return at [510] 839-2241) and let him know you appreciate the work that he and others are doing in Africa.]