Techiman (B/A) July 25 GNA - The Brong Ahafo Regional Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has organised a day's sensitisation workshop and photo exhibition at Techiman.

It was the third in a series for four districts in the region, after Dormaa and Berekum.

The 50 participants, including Assembly Members, opinion leaders, chiefs, hairdressers, AIDS activists, personnel from National Fire Service, Judicial Service, disabled and the media, among others, spent the day deliberating on HIV/AIDS and related issues. The theme for the workshop was, "HIV/AIDS, recipe for disaster", and the participants are expected to go back and sensitise target groups on the need for people to change their attitude towards sex as a way of curbing the spread of the pandemic.

Mr. Kwabena Darko, Techiman Municipal Coordinator of NADMO said the organisation had found it necessary to get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, considering the rate of infection in the Municipality. He said the theme for the workshop was very appropriate, explaining that if care was not taken to halt the spread of infection, the future would be disastrous for the country.

Mr. Darko expressed dismay at the perception of some people that NADMO was only interested in the distribution of blankets and other relief items, saying its activities, including afforestation exercises, tree planting and organizing workshops, such as on HIV/AIDS, were aimed at improving the lot of society.

Nana Atta Afena, Regional Coordinator of NADMO, noted that the activities of NADMO was mainly developmental and its objective was to prevent disasters and not to wait for the disasters to happen before taking curative measures. He said Techiman was selected for the programme, considering its status as a viable commercial centre that attracted a lot of people from all walks of life, bringing in a lot of problems including prostitution. The NADMO Director expressed optimism that most diseases in the country were man-made and could be prevented if the people changed their attitudes, eschewed superstition and adhered to the ABC of HIV/AIDS and embarked on good personal hygiene as an antidote to curb malaria. He called on Ghanaians to cultivate the culture of disaster prevention.

Mr. Richard Obeng Baah, NADMO Focal person on AIDS in Brong Ahafo, speaking on "The basic facts on HIV/AIDS, background of HIV/AIDS, relationship between HIV/AIDS, the mode of transmission", reminded that the pandemic was no respecter of persons, considering the mode of transmission.

Mr. Obeng appealed to people to show compassion on victims of HIV/AIDS and to love them so they would live longer, saying isolating them rather sent them early into their graves. In an open forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Abass, Assembly Member for Konimase electoral area, commended the government for efforts made to curb the pandemic.

He suggested a national dress code for women in particular to save men from falling to "their tempting dresses". Nana Owusu Gyare, Akwamuhene of Techiman Traditional Area, who presided advised people ready to marry to go for blood test before the ceremony.

He noted that the workshop would not achieve its objectives if the participants kept whatever they had learnt to themselves and urged them to go back and educate the communities about the dangers of the pandemic.