Accra, June 3, GNA - The HIV/AIDS campaign must move from a period of mere talk shows to a more action oriented strategy that would include challenges to effect behavioural change.

Mr Alfred Fawundu, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, said this on Thursday when he launched a music album and video documentary on HIV/AIDS developed by the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA).

The music album and the video documentary are to be used as educational materials to reduce the risk of infection of HIV/AIDS and address the issue of behavioural change as well as stigmatisation for their HIV/AIDS Project.

Mr Fawundu said most of the HIV/AIDS advocacy was yet to be translated into desirable behavioural change.

"Unless we empower the individual and communities to come out with their own analysis of specific situations in their localities and make their own decisions to effect change, our current advocacy strategies cannot handle the spread of the virus", he said.

He called on Ghanaians to be more responsible in their lifestyles to halt the further spread of the disease.

Pastor Peter Osei Mensah, Board Chairman of ADRA, said the HIV/AIDS Project, located at 20 market centres in 15 districts and towns within Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Central and Greater Accra Regions, had the theme: "Social Mobilisation for HIV/AIDS Prevention - A Role for Informal Groups".

The project, which is a collaboration between ADRA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has targeted about 20,000 long distant drivers, traders, female porters, cart pushers, master craftsmen and apprentices, tailors, dressmakers, hair-care providers and other out of school youth.

Pastor Mensah said the increasing magnitude of the menace in the country demanded a serious intensification of the education and called on all to join in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

He said the vulnerable, marginalised and farmers in the food security project were the people that needed more education on the menace.

Pastor Mensah said the Project, supported by the USDA, would use community behaviour, change communication strategies to change the attitude of the target group while clients would be referred to reproductive facilities for counselling, diagnosis and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infection cases.

Professor Sakyi Awuku Amoa, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, who presided, called for the stretching of supporting hands to the HIV victims.

He said: "Reaching them; showing them love and care is even enough to relieve them from their stress."