Regional News of Thursday, 15 July 2004

Source: GNA

Politicians asked to be involved in the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign

Dwenase (E/R), July 15, GNA- The National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called on politicians to be involved in the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

"Politics alone without touching on key issues pertaining to health of the very people we are rallying around to seek their mandate is not the best", he said.

Mr Opoku-Ampofo was speaking at the end of a football gala at Dwenase near Begoro, in the Fanteakwa District on Thursday, as part of the Ohum-kan festival of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area.

The sporting event was meant to campaign against the HIV/AIDS.

He condemned recent calls by some heads of religious organisations that people who died from AIDS should not be given "Christian burial". Such comments have the tendency of thwarting efforts and resources being spent on the crusade against the disease, he said.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who is also the MP for Fanteakwa, presented a set of jerseys and a football each and 6 million cedis to the 10 teams from towns in the Fanteakwa constituency, saying, he was using soccer as a forum to address the issue of HIV/AIDS.