Assembly holds AIDS durbar at Topease

Topease {E/R}, Jan. 20, GNA - Ghanaians have been advised to change their attitude towards sex by being cautious so as avoid contracting the HIV/AIDS disease.
Mr Umar Amoah, District Chief Executive for West Akim, made the call at a durbar organised by the District Assembly on HIV/AIDS for the people of Topease, near Asamankese in the Eastern Region. He advised couples to stick to their partners to avoid the disease since "AIDS is real".
The durbar, which was poorly attended, was under the theme, "Fighting Stigma and Discrimination Against People Infested with HIV/AIDS".
Mr Amoah expressed concern about the poor attendance. The DCE said AIDS had no cure, adding that, it was better to abstain from indiscriminate sex.
He advised parents to discourage their children from attending social functions such as wake-keepings and funerals in the night. Mr Amoah disclosed that the National Board for Small-Scale Industries and the United Nations Investment and Development Organisation, which had opened offices in the district had identified groups in the manufacturing sector and service providers for training and Micro-Finance packages.
He said the district had disbursed 149 million cedis since January, last year, to identifiable groups and individuals under the Poverty Alleviation Fund, adding that, 100 million cedis would be disbursed this farming season.
A speaker, during question time, wanted to know what the government was doing about the high rate of poverty in the villages to discourage girls from indulging in sexual promiscuity for money. Nana Ansah Kwadwo II, Chief of the town, appealed to the people to take the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign seriously.