Teachers trained in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Obuasi

Obuasi, Dec 1, GNA - More than 1,000 primary, junior and senior secondary school teachers in the Obuasi Municipality have been given training on how they can effectively join the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially amongst pupils and students. Mr Joseph K. Onyinah, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, said this at a durbar on HIV/AIDS organised for over 500 junior secondary school students at Obuasi by Youth Care Africa (YOCAF) on Thursday.

He said pupils and students who were considered 'window of hope' needed to be protected against being infected by the pandemic. YOCAF, an Obuasi-based Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO), organised the durbar for students drawn from Obuasi Saint Thomas, Methodist, SDA, Baptist and Anglican JSS as part of activities to mark World AIDS Day.

Mr Onyinah said the need for pupils and students to be protected against the HIV/AIDS was a responsibility that lied at the doorstep of teachers.

He said the district had since 2004 placed first nationwide in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the achievement could only be sustained when "our pupils, students and teachers work hard". The Rev George Kingsley Amoako, Head Pastor of Covenant House Chapel at Obuasi, who was the resource person, told the students that it was not true that lack of early sex made one to become unintelligent and stupid.