Nkoranza (B/A), Jan. 23, GNA - Mrs Fati Saaka, Nkoranza district HIV/AIDS Focal Person, has urged teachers to educate their students on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Mrs Saaka was addressing about 1,000 students of St.

Theresa's, Girls Model and Anglican Junior High Schools, all at

Nkoranza, during a quiz competition. The competition was jointly organized by the Nkoranza

District Assembly and the school Health Education Programme

Unit of the District Education Directorate as part of activities to

mark World AIDS Day celebration held late last year. Mrs Saaka, who is also the Nkoranza District Deputy

Coordinating Director, expressed her concern about how the

disease was spreading in the communities, in-spite of the

intensified education on it. "Since the youth are the vulnerable, it is very prudent for

teachers to show concern about it and educate the students

on the pandemic", she said. She urged the students to form virgin and abstinence

clubs to promote good moral development to enhance

discipline in the schools. Mrs Eva Saku, Nkoranza District Public Health nurse, said

HIV/AIDS was real and advised students to avoid pre-marital

sex. She urged them to shun early sex and take their education

seriously to enable them to become responsible people in the

future. Mrs Saku deplored the negative attitude of some people to

stigmatize persons living with HIV/AIDS, stressing "every one is

at risk and could contract the disease". Mr Kwasi Gyan, Nkoranza District Coordinator of school

health education programme, called on teachers to organize

regular quiz competitions on health issues, to promote

environmental sanitation and personal hygiene among

students. He commended the Nkoranza District Assembly and the

Ghana AIDS Commission for sponsoring the quiz competition

to create awareness on HIV/AIDS. The Girls Junior High School obtained 34 points to annex

the first position and was followed by St. Theresa's Junior High

School with 31 points and Anglican scoring 28 points. The schools received cash awards of GHC 50, GHC 40 and

GHC 30, respectively, while the contestants were given five

exercise books and a "T" shirt each.