Akim-Abease (E/R), Dec 17, GNA - Mrs Janet Ampong, a Principal Nursing Officer of the Akim Oda Government Hospital, on Friday stressed the need for people to avail themselves of Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VTC) to know their HIV/AIDS status.

Such knowledge, she said, would not only enable them adopt behavioural change but seek early treatment when they are known to be HIV/AIDS positive to prolong their lives.

Mrs Ampong was speaking at a day's training workshop on HIV/AIDS for 35 volunteers of the Maranatha Citrus Nursery group, a community-based organization at Akim Abease in the Birim North District on Friday.

She said the HIV/AIDS pandemic could only be controlled through behavioural change by individuals and advised that people should take steps to prevent infection.

Mrs Ampong advised people who cannot abstain from casual sex to use the condom at all times.

The Co-ordinator of the organization, Mr Samuel Agyei-Frempong, expressed regret that despite the numerous public education campaign against the HIV/AIDS disease, there were still some people who did not believe that "AIDS is real", adding that "if the perception should continue, the disease could not be controlled."