Koforidua, Nov. 2, GNA- The Ghana United Nations Students and Youth Association, (GUNSA), with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has organised a UN Model Security Council Session for schools at Koforidua, as part of activities making the celebration of the 58th United Nations Day.

Under the topic, "HIV/AIDs situation in sub-Saharan Africa", 15 Senior Secondary Schools in the Eastern Region participated and Benkum Secondary School emerged as the winner with a cash prize of 500,000 cedis, while Koforidua Secondary Technical School and Pope John Secondary Seminary, had the second and third positions respectively with cash prizes of 400,000 cedis each.

The National President of GUNSA, Ms. Myra Togobo, explained that the main aim of organising the programme was to give the youth the opportunity to have first hand experience on how issues are being discussed and decisions taken during UN Security Council Sessions and to have the opportunity to debate on issues of national interest. She noted that the youth, who are already confronted with social problems like drug abuse and teenage pregnancy, now has HIV/AIDs threatening them and said since they had problems with sexual control they were very much at risk.

She however, advised them to view the disease as not only a health problem but also as a major developmental problem and adopt positive behavioural change towards it.

A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Divina Adjoa Seanedzu, noted that the decline in school enrolment in countries affected by HIV/AIDs was one of the most visible effects of the epidemic and explained that AIDS is reducing the number of children in schools because mostly they are asked to take care of their sick parents and family members at home.

"It is frightening that 170,000 of our children who constitute the future workforce, have already been orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDs", she added.

She expressed concern about the increased prevalence rate of 3.4 percent and said if concrete efforts are not taken over 1.36 million Ghanaians could contract the disease by the year 2004. She, therefore, suggested the use of education's potentials to transmit messages on prevention and attitudinal change towards the disease.

An Officer from the UN information Centre, Mr. Abraham Nunoo, commended GUNSA for the role it had played in raising awareness among its members and the general public on precautions one should take in order not to contract the disease.

He expressed the hope that such awareness would help transform into attitudinal change to significantly reduce the country's current prevalence rate of 3.5 percent.