Sunyani (B/A) Nov. 26 GNA - The AIDS torch that was lit early this month in Accra by Vice President Aliu Mahama to begin a month-long programme to create more awareness about HIV/AIDS and effective ways of combating the disease, on Tuesday arrived in Sunyani, Brong-Ahafo to a rousing welcome.

A group of bicycle riders accompanied the lone cyclist who carried the torch from Wa, capital of the Upper West Region to a durbar at the Victoria Park in Sunyani, the Brong-Ahafo Regional capital.

Nana Bosoma Asor-Nkrawiri, Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, received the torch in the presence of the Regional Minister, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, deputy Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffour, Sunyani District chief Executive, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah and Mr Pelmac Atiase, Events Co-ordinator of Ghana AIDS Commission.

The Omanhene passed on the torch to the leader of Brong-Ahafo cyclists, Richard Zakari, who would send it to Kumasi in Ashanti Region for a similar handing-over ceremony.

Mr Atiase said the Commission was doing its best to help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

He thanked the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council for the warm reception accorded the group, which he said had already been to the Eastern, Volta, Northern, Upper East, Northern and Upper West Regions.

Nana Seinti advised the youth, especially students to abstain from casual sex as the use of condom was not absolutely safe.

In a speech read for him, Alhaji Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, the Brong -Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, announced that 861 AIDS cases were recorded in the region between January and June this year.

This figure, he said, was the tip of the iceberg as many AIDS cases were not officially reported.

Dr Ibrahim said the theme for this year's World AIDS Day: "Reducing Stigma and Discrimination against People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWA), the Human Rights Factor", was relevant as it sought to help prevent, reduce or eliminate stigmatisation and discrimination against victims of the disease.

He said discrimination against these people violated their human rights and hamper prevention efforts since that attitude discouraged people from undertaking voluntary testing and counselling for HIV.

Dr Ibrahim said the situation was partly due to false belief by some people that the disease infected only prostitutes and also that it was a punishment from God.

He dismissed the superstition and advised married couples to be faithful to their partners and the youth to abstain from pre-marital sex since anybody irrespective of age or religious inclination could acquire HIV/AIDS.

Dr Ibrahim said the fight against the disease should start with education on attitudinal and behavioural change and reminded Ghanaians that: "HIV/AIDS could not be spread through hand shaking, hugging, sharing of cups and plates, coughing, sneezing, water or food, insect bites or sharing common toilet with an affected person".

An HIV carrier, who accompanied the Commission team from Accra to Sunyani, testified that he lived with the virus, which he acquired in Uganda six years ago.

He said notwithstanding his fate, he did not face any stigmatisation from his family and advised the people to be friendly with persons with AIDS to enable them to live longer.