Ho, May 18, GNA - Ghanaians have been warned against using their bare hands to remove used condoms without the help of a hand glove. This is because contact of an infected spillage semen or cervical fluid with a wounded hand could be a possible means of transmission.

Mr Alex Ahortor Mensah, of the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) gave the warning at a day's HIV/AIDS sensitisation workshop organized by his outfit for the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA), in Ho on Thursday. Mr Ahortor Mensah explained that semen or cervical fluid was blood and therefore its contact with any open part of the skin could raise the possibility of infection if that semen or cervical fluid was infected.

He noted that this mode of transmission was not new but had beaten the imagination of many people.

Mr Ahortor Mensah stated that the most unfortunate thing was that many found it difficult to determine wounds on their fingers and use them anyhow.

"It is therefore advisable for us all to wear condoms and hand gloves during sex to totally prevent getting infected", he advised. Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, noted that AIDS was one of the nation's obstacles to socio-economic development. He said it was important for everyone to be the other's keeper to kick the disease out of the country completely.

Mr Goh advised the participants to show interest in the welfare of their apprentices for them to complete their apprenticeship. He asked them to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) project and the National Youth Employment Programme, which are all on-going in the Region.

Mr David Setsoafia, Volta Regional Chairman of GNTDA in a welcome address was grateful to the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) for supporting the programme and expressed the preparedness of the Association to disseminate the message. The workshop attracted over 300 participants.