MOE develops strategy to reduce AIDS among its workforce

Kumasi, Aug 13, GNA- The Ministry of Education says it has developed a strategy to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among its workforce by 30 percent in 2005.

Ms Lydia Osei, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said the strategy has become necessary in view of the fact that the education sector, with over 240,000 workforce and seven million learners, is one of the most vital sectors that the menace can affect most.

This was contained in an address read on her behalf at a five-day training of trainers workshop for Regional and District Education focal persons drawn from the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions on Tuesday. Ms said the rapid spread of the disease remained a serious threat to the public and social and economic development.

She appealed to the participants to step up the education of students, pupils, teachers and society on the need for behavioural change.

Mrs Ellen Bernice Mensah, Deputy Director of Education in charge of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Unit, said the sector's aim was to build the capacity of focal persons to help reduce the rate of infection, behavioural risks and vulnerability associated with the disease.

The spread of the virus, she said, reduces the supply of manpower needs of the education sector, affects quality education and disrupts education policies and programmes.

"If teachers and educators on whom the government spends rather scarce resources, destroy many years of training and prematurely die, education of children and the youth would be greatly jeopardized", she said.