NGOs organises anti-HIV campaign in Eastern Region
The Young and Lonely Foundation, Ghana (YLF), a non-governmental organisation based at Agona Swedru has organised HIV and AIDS awareness at Akim Anamase in the Eastern Region.
The HIV and AIDS awareness and safe-sex seminar was the Foundation’s contribution towards eradicating the menace in the Birim South District and surrounding areas.
Communities that have benefited from the seminar which started in May, includes Asikuma, Ajumako, Nkwantanum, Mankessim and Akim Oda.
Speaking during one of the seminars at Anamase, Mr Gilbert Kofi Germain, the Executive Director of YLF noted that “the AIDS scare is real”.
Mr Germain advised the public to take precautionary measures to help avoid contracting the dreadful disease.
He asked the people to guard against Sexually Transmitted Diseases by staying with one partner at a time.
He urged couples to embrace family planning and do away with age-old beliefs in large families, as a source of wealth.
In a related development, the Universal United Youth Organisation (UUYO), an NGO has also embarked on a campaign to help educate the youth in Akim Oda in the Eastern Region about the dangers of HIV and AIDS.
Some of the programmes initiated by the organisation are drama on HIV and AIDS, the formation of HIV and AIDS Clubs, debate on HIV and AIDS, provision of flyers and brochures on HIV and AIDS and public durbars on the pandemic.
Addressing a debate on HIV and AIDS for schools in the Nkwantanum Zone of the Municipality, Mr Eric Pinaman Asare, President of UUYO, said the biggest challenge in the campaign against the virus was how to influence Ghanaians, particularly the youth to change their attitude towards sex.
He said the songs and jingles on HIV and AIDS were not meant for amusement, but rather designed to send a message to the target audience, to enable them protect themselves through acceptable sexual behaviours.
Mr Pinaman Asare urged the people to be realistic with the HIV and AIDS pandemic and stop associating it with superstition.
He said the dreadful disease which has no cure was a drawback to progress and development.
Source: GNA