Tema, Dec 10, GNA - Physically Challenged Persons drawn from parts of the Tema Metropolis have underscored the need for them to be equipped with relevant knowledge on HIV/AIDS to prevent them from contracting the disease. Mr Benjamin Ofosu-Hene, president of Hope in Christ, an NGO made up of Physically Challenged Persons, noted that, the disabled often fall victim to the devastating disease, therefore the education was needed to avoid contracting it and prevent its spread. He made the call at a workshop in Tema organised for them by the Ghana AIDS Commission in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

The workshop aimed at sensitizing the physically challenged persons about the repercussions of irresponsible behaviour in the contraction of the disease. Mr Ofosu- Hene stated that their total dependence on philanthropists made them susceptible to wrongful behaviour meted out on them by other able citizens. He advised the public to lead exemplary lives and not to take the availability of condoms to lead immoral lives but insist on abstinence until maturity.

"Let us not hide behind condoms and do wrong to people and to ourselves. Let us not sing the abstinence chorus and expect others rather than ourselves to dance," Mr Ofosuhene stated. Madam Matilda Mahama, TMA-HIV/AIDS Committee member and Counsellor at Ghana Education Service (GES), encouraged disabled persons to overlook their perceived disability and focus on their potentials to develop themselves. She said that most persons with disability complained of being neglected by the government, policy makers and development partners. Madam Mahama pointed out that the negligence of government in heeding to the plight of disabled persons, contributed to their promiscuous lives as they felt no one cared about their welfare, adding that the much feared disease had neither respect nor sympathy for either disable or able persons. Mr Frank Ebo Mensah, Behaviour Change Communication Counsellor, took the participants through the various stages of contracting the HIV infection. He noted that the devastating effect of the dreadful disease was high on the productive youth and advised on carefulness with their lives.

Mr Mensah appealed to the Ghana AIDS Commission, TMA, and international NGOs to give material and financial support to physically challenged persons to enable them lead comfortable lives.