Koforidua (ER), Aug. 26, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC) is to use part of its HIPC fund allocation to import one million female condoms as part of efforts to help in protecting women from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The Ministry was also planning to grant loans for women to enable them support children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of MOWAC, announced this when she addressed a workshop organized for Queenmothers in the Eastern Region at Koforidua on Tuesday.

It was organised under the auspices of the MOWAC and the Ghana National Commission on Children aimed at sensitising the participants to help in preventing children from being infected.

The participants welcomed the Ministry's decision and asked that action should be expedited on the importation.

The Okyenhemaa Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua, noted that the use of condom by women could help in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and challenged those against the practice to suggest "any other sound alternative means".

Mrs Asmah called on Ghanaians to support the Government's efforts at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Dr Osafo-Mensah, Regional Minister, stressed the need for behavioural change by couples as well as reduction in the public apprehension and stigmatisation of HIV victims.

The leading Eastern Regional expert on HIV/AIDS, Dr S B Ofori, called for a break on the silence on sexuality and other reproductive health issues within families and urged the Queen Mothers to take advantage of the money set aside by District Assemblies on HIV/AIDS programmes to spearhead advocacy and awareness campaigns on the disease. The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, commended the organizers of the programme for realizing that, Queen Mothers were well placed to deal with the menace.

The participants at the end of the workshop, resolved to work with the MOWAC in finding ways to tackle the menace.

Mrs Asmah, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the GNCC, Madam Marylyn Amponsah, later inspected a proposed site for an orphanage for HIV orphans in the Eastern Region.