Ejisu, (Ash), Dec. 10, GNA- Health facilities in the Ejisu-Juabeng District recorded a total of 129 HIV/AIDS cases in 2003 compared to 106 this year.

Dr. Badu Sarkodie, the Ejisu-Juabeng District Director of Health Services who announced this said 80 of the number were females while the remaining 49 were male.

He was speaking at the close of a quiz competition on HIV/AIDS for Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), organized by the Ejisu-Juabeng District Health Service at Ejisu on Thursday to mark the World AIDS Day in the district.

The Ejisuman and Ejisu Secondary/Technical Schools took part in a competition, which was designed to enlighten them about the dangers of the disease.

Ejisuman came first and had 300,000 cedis cash as their prize while Ejisu Secondary/Technical, which placed second had 200,000 cedis cash. They were all also given handouts on HIV/AIDS

Dr. Sarkodie said for this year, 66 out of the 106 cases recorded were females while the remaining 40 represented males. He was not happy about the continuous spread of the menace in spite of the numerous interventions.

He appealed to Government and Non-Governmental organisations and benevolent organisations to devote more resources to research into the disease with the view to coming out with a cure for it. He said unless a cure was found, it might continue to spread, thereby jeopardizing the progress of the nation.

Mr. Douglas Acheampong, The District Disease Control Officer, called on Churches and the Muslim Communities to devote time during prayer sessions to educate members on the HIV/AIDS.