Regional News of Friday, 3 February 2006

Source: GNA

Do not discriminate against PLWHA-Fleischer

Agona-Nkwanta (W/R) Feb.3 -GNA-A five-day sensitisation workshop on HIV/AIDS organised by Conservation Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), for 52 peer educators drawn from eight selected communities in the Ahanta West District, ended on Friday at Agona-Nkwanta.

The communities are Bokoro, Fasin, Apimanim Number One, Apimanim Number Two, Sankor, Beahu, Tomentu and Abease.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr Isaac Kwakye, Deputy District Coordinating Director, expressed concern about the continued increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the country.

He said the country's human resource base would be affected if the spread of the disease was not checked.

Mr. Kwakye urged the participants to sensitise the people against the disease in their communities to halt its spread.

Ms Elizabeth Fleischer, Assistant Programme Manager of Conservation Foundation, said the Foundation intends to train about 90 HIV/AIDS peer educators and urged Peer Educators and opinion leaders to give necessary attention and care to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in their communities.

Ms Fleischer asked community educators and opinion leaders to educate people in their communities not to discriminate against and stigmatise PLWHA.