Ejisu, (Ash), May 23, GNA - Mr Padmore Mensah, the Ejisu-Juaben Deputy District Co-ordinating Director urged the youth to ignore speculations by some people that people who refrain from early sex, would become docile adults.

He said contrary to this perception, people who abstain from early sex rather grow to be physically, mentally and spiritually strong. Mr Mensah was addressing the Quarterly meeting of the Ejisu-Juaben District Virgins club, at Ejisu at the weekend.

Public health nurses from the 18 districts of the Ashanti region also attended the meeting, which was to take stock of activities of the club and also adopt strategies to strengthen members' resolve to maintain their virginity, Ejisu-Juabeng District is the first in the region to form a virgins club and the nurses attended the meeting to get first hand information about the club, to enable them form similar groups at their respective districts.

Mr Mensah said: " Those who make assertions that people who refrain from early sex, would become foolish adults are those who have already defiled themselves and would wish that virgins break their virginity and join them immoral act".

Miss Ellen Fosu, President of the Public Health Nurses Group, said as virgins, the young girls were presently protected against HIV/AIDS, but cautioned that they run the risk of contracting the disease if they "make wrong choices when entering into marriage".

She said: "you should ensure that your husbands-to-be go for test to ascertain their HIV status before contracting any marriage with him". Nana Yaa Asantewaa II, Queenmother of Ejisu, said bringing virgins together lone was not enough to safeguard them from immorality but ensuring the maintenance of their virginity was important and advised that members of such clubs should be assisted to learn vocational skills and trade to enable them establish their own businesses.

He said, "this could help girls become self-dependent and financially sound and they will be able to resist any attempts by men to lure them with money in order to sex with them before marriage".