Regional News of Friday, 4 July 2003

Source: GNA

Check spread of HIV/AIDS among children-Okyere

Obuasi, July 4, GNA - Mr Samuel Kofi Okyere, Adansi West District Director of Education, has called on Ghanaians to take concrete steps to check the spread of HIV/AIDS among children. He appealed to parents and the larger society to stop children from watching pornographic films and listening to profane songs that could arouse them sexually.

Mr Okyere said this in a speech read for him at an HIV/AIDS awareness programme organised by the Science Club of Enefel International School at Obuasi. The programme, which also involved a campaign march through some streets of Obuasi, was under the theme "Catch them young away from HIV/AIDS." He said the theme should remind all stakeholders to assist in preventing children from contracting the disease. "The contracting of the disease by children is a serious problem, which needs to be tackled in earnest." Mr Joe Boampong, the District Chief Executive, in a speech read for him, said there was the need to redirect the focus from AIDS awareness creation to the development of strategic activities that would enhance behaviour change.