Problem of AIDS must be solved first - Director

Manya-Krobo (E/R), May 21, GNA- The National Director of the Christian Friends of Democracy (CFD), Major Ibrahim Rida (rtd) said on Saturday that no true reconciliation would be possible in the country if the HIV/AIDS menace is allowed to take a further toll on the people.

He asked: "Who are we uniting when the people are dying? We cannot unite the dead" Major Rida was speaking at a national AIDS campaign launched by his outfit for secondary school students at the Krobo Girls' School at Manya Krobo to raise their awareness about the negative effects of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the individual, society and the nation at large.

He intimated that if the United States of America with all her might and resources could designate AIDS as a national security threat, then African countries with their relative smaller economies and high number of recorded cases of the ailment would have to do more to combat the disease.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the advertising messages of contraceptive marketing companies, which seem to suggest to the youth that having sex was okay if condoms were used.

He said condom marketing should not expose the youth to danger and charged radio and television stations to refrain from feeding them with programmes that corrupt their morals.

The Rev. Samuel Adjei, National President of the Union, said the future of the youth, who are to take over from the current generation as leaders is bleak because, they fall into the age category, where the HIV virus is attacking most.

The Akwapim North District Chief Executive, Mr Anthony Gyampoh, observed that though there is 90 per cent awareness about the havoc of HIV/AIDS in the country, this has not translated into a change in behaviour. He said what complicates the issue further was that the type of models being given to the youth are not "good enough for change".

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Gladys Appiah, called for the formulation of policies that protect girls from harm.