New Abirem, Sept 8, GNA - The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would by the end of September this year stop funding its HIV/AIDS Prevention through Education (HAPE) project in the Birim North District in the Eastern Region.

At an exit durbar on the project at New Abirem, the District Chief Executive for Birim North, Mr Napoleon Amoako Asiamah, in a speech read on his behalf, stressed that since there is no known cure for HIV/AIDS, the only hope of tackling the disease is behavioural change through educating people on how to avoid contracting the virus. Mr Asiamah observed that the pandemic continues to pose developmental challenges in the country and therefore urged stakeholders to work tirelessly to check its spread. He commended JICA for collaborating with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) to help improve the socio-economic lives of beneficiary communities in the district since 1998 when it first entered. Mr Asiamah said the assembly would continue to make enough allocation in its annual District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) budget for the sustainability of the JICA project, and expressed the hope that all other stakeholders would honour their promises to make the project achieve its set objectives. The District Director of Health Services, Mr Tei Djangmah, indicated that out of 225 HIV positive cases recorded in the district between 2005 and July 2009, 174 were females with the remaining 51 males. Mr Djangmah expressed worry about the growing number of females who have contracted the disease and advised them to use the condom at all times if they cannot abstain.

The Director said even though there have been rumours of herbal cure for the disease there has not been any scientific proof, and emphasised the need for continuous education on attitudinal change. The Coordinator of PPAG in the district, Mr Moses Aboagye, said as a result of the fruitful collaboration between JICA and PPAG, a lot of young people are now well informed about HIV/AIDS and its related issues. He said more counselling and testing services have been recorded due to the level of awareness created. 09 Sept 09