Govt votes 225 million cedis for AIDS programme

The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Chief Executive, Mr Kenneth Obempong on Wednesday warned that any community based organisation (CBO) or non-governmental organisation (NGO) that misapplied funds meant for HIV/AIDS education campaign would be drastically dealt with.

Mr Kenneth Obempong gave the warning when he opened a two-day workshop on "HIV/AIDS" for 24 representatives of community-based organisations in the District.

The workshop, which was organised by the District Response Initiative (DRI), was to sensitise CBOs to send correct messages on HIV/AIDS to communities and prepare an action plan for effective monitoring.

He said the government through Ghana AIDS Commission had voted 225 million cedis to the assembly to undertake HIV/AIDS educational campaign in the District and urged the participants to utilize the funds allocated to them judiciously.

He said the workshop had come at a time when many community-based organisations lacked the necessary skills to effectively deliver HIV/AIDS awareness messages to the people at the grassroots.

He, therefore, urged participants to take the course seriously since it would help to build their capacity and strengthen their awareness creation programmes in their various communities.

Mr Obempong commended the DRI team for organising the workshop for the CBOs in the District and pledged the assembly's support for them and NGOs that were ready to help to fight the spread of the disease.

He said the health of everyone was the responsibility of all and called on heads of departments and the participants to help to check the pandemic.

Mr Jonathan Gyewu, District Focal Person of DRI, in his welcoming address urged the participants to use the money for the purpose for which it was given.

Topics discussed included: "Roles And Responsibilities Of DRI" and "AIDS Committees And Focal Persons" and Report Writing And Preparation Of Action Plan".