Awutu Obrachire (C/R), July 13, GNA - Intervention Forum (IF), an NGO based in Bawjiase in the Central Region, has provided school uniforms and books valued at 50 million cedis to 25 orphans and needy children in the Bawjiase-Odumase District Council Primary and JSS. It has also trained 20 unemployed youth as peer educators on HIV/AIDS, set up abstinence clubs and two needy women's associations in Odumase and Obrachire and has undertaken several HIV advocacy programmes among truck drivers, artisans and commercial sex workers.

Madam Nora Ollennu, Chief Executive of the NGO, said this at an HIV/AIDS sensitisation forum at Awutu Obrachire Senior Secondary School that was largely attended by the students and people. The theme for the forum, which was supported by the Ghana AIDS Commission and the District Response Initiative, was "HIV/AIDS and You". Madam Ollennu said it had been observed that there was a high rate of sexual promiscuity among the youth on festive occasions, and thus, the possibility of the youth contracting the virus.

Madam Ollennu reminded women, who travel long distances on business to avoid all sorts of offers in exchange for sex and also urged long distance truck drivers, who passed their nights at unfamiliar transit points, that HIV/AIDS is now waiting for them. Alhaji Ishaq Asuru, the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Co-ordinating Director, urged Ghanaians not to be complacent with the reduced prevalent rate of the disease in the country. He appealed to NGOs and CBOs to continue to work harder to help bring the rate drastically down. He urged Ghanaians to be mindful of their sexual habits since the awareness had been created but the behavioural change had not been the best.