Asuom (E/R), Sept. 16, GNA - A five-day workshop on HIV/AIDS organised by the Voluntary Work-Camps Association of Ghana (VOLU), opened at the Akim Asuom Secondary School on Monday.

A total of 50 participants from the Kwaebibirem District are attending the workshop sponsored by some Non-Governmental Organisations and the Ghana National AIDS Commission.

Speaking at the opening, Mr Kobina Donkoh, National Chairman of the Association, said the workshop was to create awareness about HIV/AIDS among the youth to curb the spread of the disease. He said the Association had been educating the people on how to get rid of sexually transmitted diseases over the years and was also engaged in re-forestation programmes.

It had planted 50 acres with tree-seedlings at Jankufa in the Brong Ahafo Region, he said, adding that, the Association also assists the people to appreciate their culture.

Mr Donkoh commended the government for its effort in the fight against AIDS and appealed to religious bodies and social organisations to join the fight against the disease. He advised the participants to avoid premarital sex, lead up-right life-styles and to be disciplined and patriotic.

Barima Appiah Danso, Chief of Akim Takyiman, advised the participants to spread the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign to save lives, which would be lost through the disease.

Barima Danso, who was Chairman for the occasion advised them to take the workshop serious to move the country forward. Mr Alexander Ohenebeng, District Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, said the District is third on the list of the most affected areas in the Eastern Region and called for sustained efforts to reverse the trend.

He commended the Association for organising the programme and appealed to the people to support it.

Barima Sarpong Kumankuma, Chief of Adankrono, said the disease was real and advised the people especially the youth to take measures to avoid contracting it to ensure the socio-economic advancement of the country.