Koforidua, Sept. 3, GNA - A two-day training of trainers' workshop for peer education on HIV/AIDS for 85 National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) staff in Eastern Region opened at Koforidua on Thursday.

Among the participants included District NADMO Co-ordinators, District Social Mobilization Officers and other staff members of the District and Zonal Offices.

The Workshop was aimed at up-grading the knowledge of the participants on HIV/AIDS to be able to help train the 13,250 members of Disaster Volunteers in the region to join the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Seth M. Ahyiah said, last year, his organization initiated the HIV/AIDS programme in response to the escalating prevalence rate of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region.

He said the initial aim was to improve upon the knowledge of the staff of NADMO on HIV/AIDS to help reduce infection among the staff of the organization and their spouses.

Mr Ahyiah said the second stage of the programme was to seek founding to support the district offices of NADMO to move to the grassroots level to help in the fight against disease, using the services of the Disaster Volunteers.

He said the participants of the workshop were expected to acquire the skills necessary to educate individuals and groups about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), HIV/AIDS and their prevention. Mr Ahyia said the workshop was also aimed at helping the participants to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for AIDS counselling.

He expressed the hope that the knowledge that would be acquired by the participants at the workshop would enable them to make the necessary impact in their districts, zones and communities.