Tarkwa (W/R), Nov. 20, GNA - Mr George Mireku Duker, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive, has said that HIV/AIDS was devastating and it depended on every member of society to help stem the spread. He said statistics indicated that the youth, which formed the bulk of the workforce of the nation, were most affected and this will have direct impact on the nation's economy. Mr Duker said AIDS was real and there was the need for people to always have sex with condom and remain faithful to their partner. He said this at the opening of one-day advocacy workshop on HIV/AIDS prevention and condom use promotion organised by Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal AIDS Committee.

It was aimed at reducing new HIV infections and promoting healthy sexual lifestyles among others. Participants included chiefs, assembly members, opinion leaders, and heads of departments and representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations.

Mr Duker appealed to the participants to have time to explain to the people the need to abstain from lifestyles that would spread the disease and refrain from stigmatiseing those affected. He advised those affected to abide by the drugs prescribed by the health authorities.

Mr Duker observed that there were a lot of HIV/AIDS cases in the area owing to influx of people, and therefore pleaded with Ghana AIDS Commission to treat Tarkwa 'with exception'. Nana Kwesi Akrosa, Bontoaoware Chief of Wassa-Fiase Traditional Area, appealed to parents not to feel shy to talk about condom usage, saying this will make the youth believe in its use. Nana Akrosa said the traditional council will discuss the state of condom usage at its council meetings. In a communique, participants at the workshop said parents should talk about condom usage to erase the mystery surrounding it. It said condom should be made accessible to the public and also women should encourage their husbands to use condom to control child birth rates.

The communique also appealed to assembly members to incorporate condom use in their community programmes. It said those who use condoms should not be branded as commercial sex workers, but should be seen as people who are encouraging safer sex. Mr Emmanuel Papa Asan, a member of the Western Regional Aids Committee said there was the need to break the barriers of the condom use and talk about it at various meetings. He said condom will reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and also control the spread of HIV/ AIDS. Mr Joseph Adjei Sowah Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Focal Person said fighting HIV/AIDS was not the preserve of one person but a responsibility of every individual. He said there was the need to also mobilise adequate resources for the implementation of HIV/AIDS programmes, which includes Film shows, radio discussions and capacity building. 20 Nov. 08