Tema, June 19, GNA - The Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church has embarked on the formation of HIV/AIDS clubs among its youth, as part of a strategy to step up the fight against the dreadful disease. Addressing the youth drawn from churches forming the Presbytery at a day's seminar on HIV/AIDS at Tema on Saturday, Reverend Andrews Odonkor, Co-ordinator of the AIDS programme explained that the Club would undertake educational activities "that would remind the youth of the realities of the dreadful disease and behave responsibly." Members of the club would disseminate information about the disease to all church members, to extol the virtues of primary virginity and practice abstinence, as well as educate the congregation not to shun people living with the disease.

Rev. Odonkor said there would also be film shows, drama, poetry recitals, symposia, games, excursions by the youth to create the awareness among the general public.

He held that would-be couples must have HIV test to know their status before contracting the marriage.

Mrs Edith Asare Mensah of the Nurse Management STI/AIDS Unit at Adabraka Polyclinic, took the participants through the mode of transmission like sex, use of contaminated razor, as well as its symptoms.

She urged them to observe total abstinence until they are married.