HIV-infected persons in the Ashanti Region are protesting a move to close down a specialist clinic at the Komfo Anokye Hospital. They are unhappy the authorities have ignored the welfare of patients in a bid to renovate the Chest Clinic which also houses the HIV and Tuberclosis Clinics. The HIV Clinic alone provides care for over 10,000 patients, who appear to have won the sympathy of the agitators over management’s approach. Stakeholders met on 21st July last year during which then Director Of Medicine, Prof Ohene Opare Sem, directed a suitable place be found for the two clinics to pave way for refurbishment. Nhyira News has however learnt that heads of the affected clinics were never involved in arriving at the decision until November 23, 2011. Head of HIV Clinic, Dr. Betty Norman, describes as unacceptable management’s failure to inform her earlier about the decision taken since July. According to her, there is no temporary provision for the relocation of the clinic to ensure uninterrupted services in HIV management. The Head of Medicine reportedly told the Director of Administration the directorate cannot effect any relocation because it is not privy to the decision. In a communiqué dated November 23, he requested the Department of Medicine will move in only after renovation works. The Estate Department recommends Consulting Room 1 at the main block or one of the old Casualty Consulting rooms at the Polyclinic. The National Association of Positive People says it will resist any move to relocate them to a site where their privacy cannot be guaranteed. Chairman, Kofi Amofa, acknowledges the Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye has officially written to inform the association of the relocation. He however indicates the group has no idea of where its members will move to. Mr. Amofa tells Nhyira News the association places privacy of its members above all other things. Meanwhile, a management member has denied affected clinics have not been informed about planned closure. Minutes of meetings and other correspondence on the relocation made available to this reporter suggests some officials of the affected clinics were involved in discussions. But the situation which has now become the battle-of-memos at the hospital will not die out anytime soon. Nhyira News investigations revealed some management members are at logger-heads with some staffs over their hard stance on the matter. Stay tune as we keep you posted.