Agona Duotu, Oct 11, GNA - Mr Kofi Taylor-Appiah, Agona District Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, has called on teachers to discourage their pupils from the use of razor blades to sharpen pencils and cutting papers in schools.

Speaking at the launch of an anti-HIV/AIDS campaign by the Agona Duotu Community Based Organization (CBO) at Duotu, he explained that the use of razor blade is dangerous because it could cause the disease. He said an HIV/AIDS positive child, who sustain a cut from a razor blade could easily infect other pupils and urged teachers especially in lower primary to encourage the use of pencil sharpeners and scissors for cutting papers.

Mr Taylor-Appiah called for special efforts to protect what he called "the gap of hope," children between the ages of three and four since they are the future leaders.

He said the District Response Initiative on HIV/AIDS has instituted a voluntary testing and counselling and asked the people to patronise to know their health status.

The government attaches great importance to the disease that was why it has voted a substantial amount to create awareness about the disease in the communities.

The Focal person appealed to the youth to desist from pre-marital sex and asked the adults to use condoms to avoid the disease.

Mrs Georgina Dawudu, Nursing Officer of the Agona Swedru Government Hospital, said some people still do not believe that HIV/AIDS pandemic is real and have refused to abstain from indiscriminate sex. She called on parents, teachers, Assembly Members and Chiefs to intensify their campaign against the disease.

Mr Enoch Duodu, Agona Duotu Contact Person, called on the government and the NGOs to provide more financial support for CBOs to enable them intensify their fight against the disease, which he said is "spreading like wide fire," in the country.

Nana Kwame Appiah, Chief of Duotu, appealed to research institutions and the World Health Organisation to intensify their efforts to find a cure for AIDS instead of the provision of funds to fight its spread.