Sekondi, Dec. 20 -GNA - Dr. Ted Avortri, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Director of Health Services has said that the practice of safer sex, Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and safe blood transfusion, could assist in reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country.

He urged the youth particularly, to embrace these methods as the alternative to check the spread of the pandemic. Dr. Avortri said these at the celebration of the World AIDS Day in the Metropolis at Sekondi on Wednesday.

It was under the theme: "Stop AIDS, Keep the promise, the time is now". He noted that though the prevalence rate had gone down, the country still had a lot to do to eliminate the disease completely. Dr. Avortri said if the country was unable to reverse the trend, many youths could contract the disease within the next 25 years.

Dr. Avortri charged Ghanaians to be faithful to their partners and keep the promise to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Mrs Olivia Opoku-Adoma, Regional focal person on HIV/AIDS said presently the Kwesiminstim, Essikadu, Takoradi and Effia Nkwanta Hospitals have VCT centres.

She noted that all districts in the region would have similar centres to cater for the needs of the people.

Mrs Opoku-Adoma charged persons living with HIV/AIDS to be bold and visit the Effia Nkwanta Hospital for anti-retroviral drugs. She said though many Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) were doing well in providing care and support for People Living With HIV/Aids, others misused funds received from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Metropolitan Chief Executive said there was the needs to train the workforce to be healthy to enable them to contribute towards the development of the region.

He said some organisations have lost some of its staff to the disease while several children have also lost their parents. Mr. Nkrumah charged partners to be faithful while the youth were also urged to abstain from sex.

He noted that though HIV/AIDS affects the body, stigmatisation and the discrimination against HIV/AIDS victims affects their soul. "We must therefore take care of them and support such persons to live freely," he added. 20 Dec. 06