Regional News of Thursday, 22 July 2004

Source: GNA

30 virgins attends HIV/AIDS workshop at Ejura

Ejura (Ash), July 22, GNA- Thirty virgins, selected from basic and second- cycle schools, in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District, of the Ashanti Region, on Tuesday ended a three-day anti-HIV/AIDS training workshop at Ejura.

The workshop was organised by Relief Service for Humanity (RESEH), a local non-governmental organisation in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission.

Mallam Yusif Shaibu, the Executive Director of RESEH, asked the virgins to reach out to people with the message of sexual abstinence. He noted that sexual promiscuity among women is been promoted by their over-reliance on men for their existence, instead of engaging in income generating ventures to ensure their economic freedom. Mallam Mohammed Aminu Bamba, an Islamic theologian, said HIV/AIDS was adversely affecting national development and called for a concerted effort to eradicate it.

He said the involvement of chiefs in the campaign was very necessary since they wield a lot of influence on society. Madam Elizabeth Owusu, District Chief Executive, called on Ghanaians to show love and concern to people living with AIDS to help prolong their life span.

Miss Rukaya Umar, Spokesperson for the workshop participants, pledged their commitment to remain virgins to enable them impact positively on the war on AIDS.