Regional News of Thursday, 29 July 2004

Source: GNA

HIV/AIDS education programme held at Hohoe

Ve-Golokwati (V/R), July 29, GNA - Mr James Dogbe, Hohoe District Chief Executive, on Thursday appealed to people who have benefited from HIV/AIDS seminars to continue to propagate the message after such programmes.

Mr Dogbe made the appeal at the launch of the "MPs Against HIV/AIDS" programme in the Hohoe-South Constituency at Ve-Golokwati in the Hohoe District.

It was initiated by Mr Kosi Kedem, MP for the area, supported by the Ghana AIDS Commission for a cross-section of people including school children.

Mr Dogbe said the disease, which was devastating all sectors of the economy, required a multi-sector response and urged Ghanaians to live morally upright lifestyles to minimise its spread.

Mr Kedem said the programme had been necessitated by the fact that Hohoe had been catalogued as the second highest area in the Volta Region in terms of infection and called for attitudinal change. He cautioned the people to discard the notion that "all die be die" and to remain faithful to their partners.

Mr Kedem appealed to chiefs, religious and opinion leaders to assist in creating awareness on the dangers of the disease and to show compassion towards people living with the disease.

Togbe Gblenor V, a Chief of Liate called for the elimination of all negative traditional practices that encouraged the spread of the disease.