Odumase (B/A) March 14, GNA - Participants at a meeting in Odumase, in the Sunyani West District, at the weekend, expressed concern about the lack of sex education, among girls in the area. They noted that, some parents and religious bodies saw sex education as a taboo and would discuss issues concerning sexual reproductive health in homes and churches.

The meeting was organised by Global Media Foundation, (GLOMEF) a Non-Governmental Organisation operating in the Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and Northern regions. It was aimed at briefing stakeholders on the implementation of the 2010 M-SHAP behaviour change communication and prevention of HVI/AIDS project, in the district. The M-SHAP is a project funded by the Ghana AIDS Commission, to help reduce HIV prevalence rate, as well as new infections among the youth, through the use of behavioural communication and prevention strategies.

The Participants noted with concern that, the lack of sex education among the adolescent was the major contributory factor to the ever increasing teenage pregnancy and HIV infection. They called on religious bodies, parents and teachers to support in educating school children, especially girls, on sexual reproductive health to enable them to make informed choices. Mr Victor Fosu Boamah, Director of Operations of the foundation said under the project, 525 condoms would be distributed, while 625 people in the district would also be reached with mobile counselling and testing services.

He said more than 23 peer educators, both in and out of school, had already undergone training to educate the youth on the causes and effects of the HIV/AIDS disease. Mr Boamah appealed to stakeholders to support the fight against the disease because of it devastating effects on the globe. Nana Abenaa Boatemaa, Queen mother of Odumase, urged her colleagues to support in the education and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Madam Jane Addae-Kyeremeh, the District Disease Control Officer expressed concern about the rate at which the disease was spreading among the youth in the area. She called for the intensification of HIV/AIDS awareness and commended the NGO for the support, to bring the disease under control in the area. Madam Addae-Kyeremeh gave the assurance that, the district health directorate would offer the needed support to the NGO to make the project successful. 14 March 11