Okumaning-Kade (E/R), Jan. 17, GNA - A five-day workshop to train peer educators and patrons of HIV/AIDS has been organised for Okumaning HIV/AIDS Sympathetic Committee.

Students and Teachers from Okumaning Methodist "A", Methodist "B", University of Ghana Agricultural Research Station (UGARS), Aboabo and Charles Benson Junior Secondary Schools participated in the workshop. Addressing the participants, Dr Osaforo-Adu Amankwah, Kwaebibirem District Coordinating Director, advised the people to adhere strongly to the teachings of the workshop and impart the knowledge to the people to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS disease in the area.

Dr Amankwah said the district Assembly had liaised with many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in fight against the disease adding it would ensure that funds given for that purpose was used judiciously.

Mr George Aboagye, Presiding Member of the Kwaebibirem District Assembly, appealed to stakeholders to redouble their efforts to eradicate the pandemic from the society.

Mr Daniel Afari, the District Focal Person for the HIV/AIDS Programme, advised the youth to help to stop to spread of the disease by abstaining completely from sexual activities adding that the youth of today constituted the "window of hope" of the country.

He said records indicated that there was high rate of teenage pregnancy in the country and this meant that the youth had been engaging themselves in sex despite the many calls to them to abstain. Mr Afari said this also meant that they had not been protecting themselves during sexual intercourse hence the pregnancies. He, therefore, said the best solution to the HIV/AIDS problem was absolute abstinence from sexual activities by the youth.