Ejisu, (Ash), Dec. 12, GNA-Health facilities in the Ejisu-Juabeng District recorded a total of 129 HIV/AIDS cases in 2003, with the number of cases recorded this year being 106.

Dr. Badu Sarkodie, the Ejisu-Juabeng District Director of Health Services who announced this said 80 out of the number of cases recorded in 2003 were females while the remaining 49 being male.

Dr. Sarkodie made the announcement at the close of a quiz competition on HIV/AIDS for senior secondary schools (SSS), organized by the Ejisu-Juabeng District Health Service at Ejisu on Thursday, as part of activities marking the World AIDS Day in the district.

Two schools, Ejisuman SSS and Ejisu Secondary/Technical schools took part in the competition, which was designed to enlighten them more about the dangers of the pandemic and what to do in order to protect themselves against the menace.

Ejisuman came first and had 300,000 cedis cash as their prize, while Ejisu Secondary/Technical, which placed, second had 200,000 cedis cash and were both given handouts on HIV/AIDS

Dr. Sarkodie said for this year, 66 out of the 106 cases recorded were females, while the remaining 40 represented males.

He expressed concern about the continuous spread of the menace in spite of the numerous interventions by way of campaigns and awareness creation programmes, being conducted by various organizations.

Dr. Sarkodie appealed to Government, Non-Governmental and benevolent organisations to devote more resources to researching into the disease with the view to coming out with a cure for it. He said unless a cure was found for the disease, it may continue to spread, thereby jeopardizing the progress of the nation.

Mr. Douglas Acheampong, The District Disease Control Officer, called on churches and the Muslim communities to devote ample time during their prayer sessions to educate their followers about HIV/AIDS. He said they should not leave the task to only health personnel and NGOs but rather regard it as a collective responsibility for the education and awareness creation drive.