Koforidua, Oct. 6, GNA – More than 1,000 orphans at Krobo in the Eastern Region whose parents died of HIV/AIDS, have been identified following a home visit program by the Manya Krobo Queen Mothers Association (MKQMA).

The Association’s queens are currently providing shelter, food, clothing, healthcare and education to the children to make life more meaningful to them.

Each queen of the Association is catering for between one and six children. The children are said to be currently doing so well.

Manye Nartekie, the President of the Association, disclosed this at the Eastern Regional stakeholders’ meeting on strategic plan on HIV and AIDS control in Koforidua on Wednesday.

She said the children live in a stable environment free from stigmatization and discrimination as they had been integrated into the wider community instead of living in orphanage homes.

The Association, she said, was formed to champion the cause of women and children, who are devastated by the HIV/AIDS menace. In addition, it is to do advocacy on all issues that affect the health and wellbeing of women and children.

Manye Nartekie said the Association had also taken up educational programmes to sensitize people on the deadly disease and organized income generating training programs to improve the financial standing of the women in the area.

She expressed appreciation to the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Ghana Health Service, the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) and the Paramount Chief of Manya Krobo, Nene Sackitey as well as other traditional authorities in the Krobo land for their immense support to the Association.

Manye Nartekie appealed for more support to ensure a holistic implementation of the Association’s programmes and to reach out to more areas including maternal health issues.