Koforidua, Dec. 03, GNA – Mr Ebenezer Terlabi, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, on Thursday called on parents to be bold to talk to their children about sex and how to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

He said this at a durbar in the Koforidua Jackson’s Park which was organized as part of activities held to mark the World AIDS Day in the Eastern Region.

Earlier placard bearing school children marched through the principal streets of Koforidua to raise public awareness of the need to continue to fight against the spread of AIDS.

Some of the placards read “Zero mother to child transmission of HIV”, “Stop AIDS, love life”, “Seek early treatment” and “Patronize ART”.

The Eastern Region is the leading region in the country with the highest prevalence of HIV infections and currently has a rate of 3.2 per cent and this year’s celebration is being organized under the theme “Getting to zero, the role of the youth”.

Mr Terlabi said many children have more knowledge of sex than their parents could imagine and that if the desire for a zero infection rate could be achieved in the country, then parents need to break their silence and educate their children on the pandemic.

He appealed to religious leaders, opinion leaders, Civil Society Organizations and politicians to devote part of all their public activities to talk about the disease.

Dr Sampson B. Ofori, Eastern Regional Coordinator of the National AIDS Control Programme, said though the HIV prevalence rate in the region kept coming down, the region had to continue talking about HIV if it was to protect 30 per cent of the population who are young people.

He called on the youth to abstain from sex and advised those who could not abstain to use condoms.

Dr Ofori also appealed to the youth to test and know their HIV status so that those who prove positive could seek early treatment while those who prove negative could protect themselves against the disease.

Rev Fr. Bobby Benson of the Catholic Church in Koforidua appealed to the people to love and support people living with the HIV to enable them live longer.