Mr Romeo Amadu Yusif, Sunyani West District Coordinator for School Health Education Programme (SHEP) has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to encourage and intensify peer education on health and other sectors of the economy for the youth in their communities.

He noted that feasibility studies conducted in 2006 at Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region, showed that peer – education was beneficial to the youth, because it allowed them free and easy access to learn from their peers.

Mr Yusif made the call at a HIV Alert Programme for some selected students in the district at Odumase.

It was organized by the Sunyani West District Assembly and sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to train students to educate their peers in the various schools and communities on HIV.

Mr Yusif said education and health were important sectors where the youth should be encouraged to show interest to realize their dreams and become useful citizens in the society.

He urged them to realize their talents and build their capacity to take the mantle of leadership in future.

Mr Asante Owusu, Sunyani West District HIV Coordinator said education on the disease especially among the students and the youth will be a factor in its reduction in the society.

Mr Joseph Kassacks Boyah Tang, Sunyani West Deputy District Coordinating Director entreated the students to take the training serious and educate their peers on the disease, because it would affect them directly or indirectly if they refused to educate their peers.

Miss Priscilla Twum and Master Luis Danso both students of Dumasua Presbyterian Junior High School (JHS) expressed appreciation to the organizers for the training which would enhance their knowledge on HIV and enable them to educate their peers.