Nkawie (Ash), July 8, GNA- Students in the Atwima District of the Ashanti Region, have expressed apprehension about the negative socio-economic impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on society.

Speaking at a Symposium at Nkawie, the students contended that the rapid rate at which the disease was spreading posed a great challenge to all well meaning Ghanaians to collectively intensify the crusade to combat it.

The symposium organised by the Regional Education office in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council, was a follow up to global activities marking HIV/AIDS day.

The students, who were selected from Toase, Nkawie and Osei Tutu Secondary Schools, spoke on various topics including, "Factors Leading to the Spread of HIV/AIDS", "Role of Parents that Enhances HIV/AIDS", "Effects of HIV/AIDS On Education" and "The State and Family, Roles of Government, School Authorities and Parents to Reverse the Spread of the Disease."

The students condemned parents who encourage their children to indulge in prostitution for purely commercial reasons. They urged the media, religious bodies and other organised groups to spearhead the campaign against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako Brobbey, Deputy District Coordinating Director, advised the students to abstain from pre-marital sex and other vices that lead to the spread of the disease.

Mr Charles Nti-Prempeh, Regional Coordinator of School Health Education Programme (SHEP), explained that the symposium was aimed at unearthing issues, which lead to the spread of the disease. Statistics of the disease in the country, he said, is frightening and that there was the need to protect the young students from contracting it.

Mr Baffour Asare-Bediako, an Assistant Director of Education, commended the students for their brilliant academic presentations and positive suggestions to combat the disease.

He advised the students to let the knowledge acquired at the symposium reflect positively on their lifestyles.