Kumasi, July 12, GNA - Women have been urged to be more assertive and insist that their partners respect their decisions about sex. Mr Patrick Amoateng-Mensah, Executive Director of the Centre for Development of People (CEDEP), a non-governmental organization, who made call, said that could help check their vulnerability to the HIV-AIDS infection.

He was speaking in Kumasi at the launch of the Ashanti Region "Fair play for Africa campaign", an alliance of more than 200 civil society organizations', using sports as a platform to draw attention to health issues affecting the people in Africa. "Reduction of HIV/AIDS stigma among women", was the theme. Politicians, educationists, public officers, students, health professionals, religious leaders and other stakeholders were present to support the campaign.

Mr Amoateng-Mensah urged the people to overcome stigmatization attached to the disease and go for voluntary counseling and testing. It is estimated that only about 10 per cent of Ghanaians know their HIV/AIDS status.

Mr Mensah also spoke of the need for those living with the disease to be supported to lead normal lives. Dr Yeboah Awudzi, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, said 73 per cent of people aged between 15 and 17 years, who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS disease in 2008 in the Metropolis, were girls.