80% HIV/Aids Cases Recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa

DR. SAMPSON Antwi, a paediatrician specialist has disclosed that 80 percent of worldwide HIV/AIDS cases are recorded in sub-Saharan Africa because of non-usage of condoms among Africans and not for sexual promiscuity.

He hinted that 90 percent of the infected mothers transmit the disease to their children. Dr. Antwi made the disclosure at a workshop organised by Act Now Against Aids (ANAA), a non-governmental organisation.

He called on couples to be faithful to each other and urged the youth to abstain from pre-marital sex and wait until they get married.

Dr. Antwi urged all families to empathise with people living with HIV/AIDS since the disease is no respector of persons and could attack anybody.

Mr. Peter K. Nkrumah, executive director of the NGO, said the workshop is aimed at educating and training the youth to refrain from sexual promiscuity and other social vices that increase the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He stressed the need for the NGO to train the youth to be peer pressure educators to acquire a deeper understanding of HIV/AIDS and intensify public awareness of the disease and reduce stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS victims and patients.

According to him, the peer educators would, in turn, spread anti-aids information to their peers, families and other people around them so that they can refrain from activities which contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS infection in the region and country as a whole.

Mr. Nkrumah stated that the youth who are powerful agents of change must seize the opportunity to break the silence and shame associated with HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Gabriel K. Fosu, PRO of the NGO, appealed to all NGOs to intensify their operations against the disease and advised parents to take good care of their girl children to forestall their being lured into early sex by unscrupulous men with money, gifts and other inducement.

Source:
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