Bolgatanga, Nov 17, GNA - Youth Harvest Foundation-Ghana (YHFG), a Bolgatanga-based non-governmental organization (NGO), has launched a reproductive health and HIV/AIDS education campaign in six second cycle schools in the Bolgatanga District.

The schools are the Bolgatanga Secondary (BIGBOSS), Bolgatanga Girls Secondary (BOGISS), Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH), Bolgatanga Women's Training Institute (WTI), Zamse Secondary/ Technical (ZAMSETECH) and Zuarungu Secondary.

Launching the programme at the weekend, Mr Rockson Bukari, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, said the issue of HIV/AIDS has become such a critical developmental concern that all sectors of the society must be brought on board.

He commended the Foundation for focusing its activities on second-cycle schools.

Mr Bukari advised the students to take messages on the dangers and consequences of HIV/AIDS seriously so that their dreams and the investments made on them by their parents and the larger society would not be in vain.

He pledged his support for the campaign and called on the Bolgatanga District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and school authorities to cooperate with the Foundation to ensure the success of the programme.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr John Kinsley Krugu, said YHFG was formed a year ago to assist young people to enable them cope with the dangers resulting from economic hardships, breakdown of traditional social values and over-exposure to mass media messages on sexuality

He said the Foundation's activities were focused on education, health education and helping the youth to develop entrepreneurial skills. Mr Krugu expressed gratitude to the Support Groups of the Swiss Tropical Institute in Basel for granting 3,000 US dollars that was seed money for the Foundation's activities.

He also appealed to the Ghana AIDS Commission for assistance for the expansion of HIV/AIDS campaign programmes to cover many schools in the upper East Region.