Koforidua, July 2, GNA - The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Gustuv Narh Dometey, has asked parents to discuss HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases to with their children to prevent the spread of those diseases.

He said: "It is imperative to create a very conducive atmosphere at home where parents and children will freely share their views and sentiments on sex issues."

The Deputy Minister was speaking at the opening of a four-day training of trainers workshop on HIV/AIDS organised by Families Together Ghana (FTG), a non- governmental organisation for selected assembly members from the Eastern Region.

It was under the theme: "enhancing inter-family communication with special emphasis on discussing HIV/AIDS at home" and aimed at providing information and communication skills for parents on the disease.

Mr Dometey urged the participants to assist in building the capacity of parents and children towards the removal of cultural barriers on the discussion on sex issues by parents and children.

He said, this would: " help children build self-confidence and the ability to withstand peer pressures and negative influences."

Mr Dometey appealed to Ghanaians to stop stigmatising and discriminating against people living with HIV/AIDS since that hindered voluntary counselling and testing for the disease.

The National Chairman of FTG, Mr Ernest Appenteng, advised the youth to avoid pre-marital sex and married couples to remain faithful to their partners.

As part of the programme, a five-member Committee with Mrs Beatrice Boateng, Presiding Member of New Juaben Municipal Assembly as Chairman, was inaugurated to see to the attainment of the objectives of the organisation in the region.