University to set up funds for AIDS victims

Cape Coast, Feb. 21, GNA- Mr Victor Paa Kwesi Mensah, President of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), on Friday announced plans by students to set up a 30-million-cedis fund to cater for HIV/AIDS victims in the Cape Coast municipality.

He said the money, which is to be raised through fund raising activities like beauty pageants and the NGO's would be used to support AIDS patients in the municipality.

Mr Mensah was speaking at the launch of the 'Miss UCC 2004' Contest, dubbed "Miss UCC 2004", the HIV/AIDS ambassadors night" under the theme, "sexual discipline, the conduit for HIV/AIDS prevention's success". He said the pageant would also aim at training 30 peer educators to help intensify awareness about the disease especially, among the youth.

Mr Mensah expressed gratitude to their sponsors including Ghana Aids Commission (GAC), Techonet Ghana Ltd, Elmina Beach Resort and YACI computers.

Miss Ivy Ama Okae, who won the pageant last year, advised all students to be mindful of AIDS and called on them to participate fully in the programme, and appealed to all well-meaning residents to contribute to the fund.