Agona Swedru (C/R), June 29, GNA- About hundred HIV/AIDS Focal Persons and officials from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), involved in the campaign against the spread of the disease from Grater Accra, Western and Central Regions have attended a five-day capacity building workshop at Agona Swedru.

The programme, organized by Ghana AIDS Commission was aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills that would ensure the intensification of programmes and campaigns to minimize the spread of HIV/AIDS in their respective regions.

Mr Emmanuel Larbi, co-ordinator of Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and leader of a six-member facilitating team told the participants to intensify their sensitization programmes to create the necessary awareness to enable people to change their sexual life style. He urged them to work hard and educate the people on the dangers of the pandemic and its effects on the economy.

Mr Larbi told them that they would be encountering challenges like stakeholder ignorant and inadequate knowledge of the pandemic but these should not discourage them to perform their duties. He advised them to vigorously organize sensitization and advocacy programmes that would help to promote healthy life style, especially in the area of sexual and reproductive health.

According to Mr. Larbi the national prevalence rate of the HIV has been stabilized with a percentage of 1.9 in 2007 against 2.2 percent in 2006. He stressed the need "for each and every one join in the fight to combat the disease from the society". Participants were taken through topics such as Data collection, management, monitoring and evolution and giving support and care to persons living with HIV/AIDS.