Manso-Nkwanta (Ashanti Region) -- Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah II, Omanhene of the Manso-Nkwanta traditional area in the Amansie West district, has advised people living with HIV/AIDS and who were silent over it to break their self-imposed silence for them to be assisted.

He noted that it would help in the HIV/AIDS education campaign immensely if those who test positive to the disease will come out openly and help in the campaign to reduce the spread of the pandemic.

Nana Bi-Kusi gave the advice when he inaugurated the Manso-Nkwanta Local Council of Churches Community-Based Organisation (CBO) on HIV/AIDS. The Omanhene said the most dangerous aspect of combating the disease was stigmatisation and the shame attached to it and pointed out that this was why those living with it failed to come out publicly for assistance.

Nana Bi-Kusi therefore appealed to the people not to shun those who had contracted the disease but help them to feel wanted so that they could share their experience with those who had not caught the disease to guard against it.

He also appealed to parents to invest in the education of their children, particularly the girls to prevent them from indulging in early sex. Mr Paul Mensah, District Information Officer for Ahafo-Ano North, asked CBOs to use the money given them for the campaign to help reduce the spread of the disease in the district.

The Reverend Joseph Apeah, chairman of the Local Council of Churches CBO, said already, the organisation had organised a training workshop for 60 church members and 30 people from Manso-Nkwanta, Kwahu, Essubinya and Manso-Dominase and 60 artisans from the four communities. He said they would soon undertake house-to-house campaigns in the area.