General News of Saturday, 30 August 2003

Source: GNA

People below 18 years asked to abstain from sex

Trabuom (Ash), Aug 30, GNA- Miss Portia Ansah, Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Health Co-ordinator, has warned people below 18 years to completely abstain from sex. She said those who cannot do so should use condom even though that was not the best, stressing that such people should know that it is not 100 percent safe.

Speaking on the topic, "HIV/AIDS, Awareness Creation/Prevention Measures" at the second Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma Science, Technology and Mathematics (STME) workshop at Trabuom on Friday, Miss Ansah stressed the need for people to go for voluntary counselling and testing for the AIDS virus.

"This will help people to know their health status and how to take care of themselves" she said.

Miss Ansah called on parents to be more responsive to the needs of their children, especially girls so that they do not fall prey to men. She asked the School Management Committees (SMCs), chiefs, elders and Parent-Teacher-Associations (PTAs) to form educational committees to raise funds to support the brilliant but needy children in the communities.

Miss Ansah urged communities to keep their environments clean and healthy to avoid the outbreak of an epidemic, adding that, children must be encouraged to observe personal hygiene. 30 Aug. 03