Loyalty Youth Development Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation to fight the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to curb immoral sexual practices among the youth in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coalter district was launched at Anum-Apapam, on Friday.

The Ghana AIDS Commission sponsored the ceremony, which was under the theme "Aids is Real, Stay Alert".

The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. George Mensah Anum, said outreach programmes, quiz, plays, puppet shows, counseling and meetings would be organized at the Club level to sensitise the people on the disease.

He said children and the youth who patronise entertainment centres such as video, concert, cinema houses and drinking bars and schools in the Anum Apapam, Kuano, Achiansa, Sowetey, Dome and Mfrante communities would be target.

Mr. Anum said Anti-AIDS Clubs would be established and seven community counselors trained, adding that, there would be quarterly review meetings on the Foundations operations.

The Reverend Father Jacob T. Botchway, A Resource Person on HIV/AIDS, who spoke on the symptoms and dangers of the disease, said education to prevent the spread of the disease should be taken seriously since it posed a threat to the human resource manpower of the country.

He regretted that HIV/AIDS victims were mainly between 12 and 40 years, which constituted the bulk of the country's workforce and called for total abstinence from pre-marital sex while couples should be faithful to each other.

Rev. Fr. Botchway, who is also the Senior Environmental Health Officer at the St. Joseph Hospital, Koforidua, advised people with HIV/AIDS to register with District Assemblies and hospitals for support.

Mr. Charles Osei Nimo, Member of the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar HIV/AIDS Committee said the disease was spreading in the Eastern Region and the District at a fast rate and asked the people to protect themselves from the disease.

He said the District Assembly would continue to support the Foundation in its activities