Regional News of Friday, 20 August 2004

Source: GNA

NGO supports AIDS orphans and needy children at Buduburam Camp

Gomoa Buduburam (CR), Aug. 20, GNA - The Ghana Foundation of Human Development, an Accra-based Non-Governmental Organisation, on Thursday presented school uniforms, exercise books and notebooks worth about 15 million cedis to 11 HIV/AIDS orphans and 54 needy children at the Liberian Refugee Camp at Gomoa Buduburam in the Central Region.

The organisation would also pay fees for the children in their various schools for one year, amounting to 15.6 million cedis. Mr George Ankonu Adjin-Tettey, Chairman of the NGO, said a vocational training institute had been established at Senya Beraku in the Central Region for street children.

Mr Adjin-Tettey said the NGO also organised outreach programmes on HIV/AIDS counselling for people living with HIV/AIDS and paid for their medication.

He said the NGO provided capital for some of the patients to embark on their own businesses and paid some volunteers to take care of those who had no one to care for them.

Mr Eric Akobeng, Gomoa District Focal Person on AIDS, urged organisations engaged in HIV/AIDS programmes to shift their attention to care and support for people living with the pandemic.

Mr Akobeng, who is also the District Budget Analyst, said though seven NGOs and 16 Community-Based Organisations were engaged in HIV/AIDS activities in Gomoa only Allied in Development Action and the Apam Catholic Hospital were in the area of care and support.

Mr John Thompson, Buduburam Camp Commander, appealed for more support and programmes on the disease for the community since most of them were vulnerable.