Accra, Dec 6, GNA - Mr. Kofi Lucas, National President of Network of Associations of Registered non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Ghana, has called for innovative strategies in the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among women and the youth in Ghana. He said expressed worry that school children due to peer pressure were falling victim to the disease.

Mr Lucas, who was addressing national service personnel of GNA, in Accra, to mark world AIDS Day, noted that the media was contributing to the spread of HIV/AID and cited the showing of provocative and obscene films on Television. He called on individuals and organisations working on HIV/AIDS projects to focus on behavioural change and education of the public to accept that HIV/AIDS was real and had no known cure.

Mr Lucas said the Network was working to prevent the spread of the disease in five districts in the Brong Ahafo Region. He called for the regulation of activities of Internet cafes operators saying some allowed children to view pornographic materials on websites.

Mr. Lucas commended government, donors and the Ghana AIDS Commission for supporting the Networks' HIV/AIDS programme adding that the NGOs would collaborate with religious bodies to implement its HIV/AIDS plans.

He said over 600 peer educators have been trained to embarked on one-on-one out-reach programme in the capital towns of the five districts to prevent the spread of the disease. Mr Lucas called on the public to support groups fighting against the spread of the disease.