Manya Krobo (E/R) Jan. 14, GNA The Youth Action Movement (YAM) a volunteer wing of Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) on Friday gave out items worth eight million cedis and five million cedis cash to support HIV/AIDS orphans at the Manya Krobo Orphanage in the Eastern Region.

The items comprised five bags of rice, ludo, two cartons of milk, ten boxes of fruit drinks, two gallons of oil, a football, oware, bags of sugar among others.

About 400 HIV/AIDS orphans, who have lost either of their parents, are at the orphanage.

Miss Aku Xornam Adzraku, National Coordinator of the movement aimed at campaigning against AIDS, in presenting the items said the move was intended to bring back the smiles and joy that had eluded the orphans.

She said the Ghana AIDS Commission supported the movement with the donation as part of its outreach programme to create awareness about status of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Miss Adzraku noted that currently about 170,000 children were orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the country and the number was expected to increase.

She said the situation was precarious and that if the necessary precautionary step was not taken the manpower needs of the country could be endangered.

Manye Esther Nateyki Deputy Paramount Queenmother of the Mnaya Krobo Traditional area, who received the items said over one thousand HIV/AIDS orphans had been identified in the district and that plans were underway to bring them to the centre.

She said catering for the children was really daunting and thus called on all benevolent groups to support the upkeep of the children.