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Regional News of Saturday, 31 January 2004

Source: GNA

Herbal NGO organises anti- AIDS workshop

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A) Jan. 31 GNA - The Dormaa Traditional and Herbal Centre, a non-governmental organization at Dormaa-Ahenkro in Brong Ahafo, has in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission organized a day's workshop for 50 selected participants.

The workshop under the theme: "Help break the AIDS chain", was to enlighten the participants to know the causes and the mode of transmission of the pandemic, its effects and how to check its spread. Mr. Henry Morrison Adjei, Director of the NGO, addressing the participants noted with regret that, "a lot of education and awareness on the pandemic has been carried out but still people have not changed their behaviours and attitudes."

The pandemic is spreading fast and if the situation is not checked, many people would contract it, he said. The Director called on churches, NGOs and other organizations to support the Commission's efforts to check the spread of the disease.

Mr. Adjei cautioned the youth and married couples to use condoms to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Mr. Mike Amponsah, Dormaa District Director for National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and a resource person said the infection was high among the youth, aged between 25 and 44 years.

He explained that since the youth constitute the bulk of the workforce of the country, there was the likelihood that productivity would be greatly affected.

Mr Amponsah appealed to people to offer themselves for AIDS test to enable them to know their health status and urged the media and community-based organizations to intensify educational programmes to sensitise the people to avoid the pandemic.