Takoradi, June 7, GNA - Mr John Ahiable, Western regional HIV/AIDS project coordinator has said that lack of a systematic education on the pandemic accounted for the increasing rate of spread of the disease. He said though awareness about the disease was very high among the populace, behavioural change had not improved.

Mr Ahiable said this at the launch of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church of the South West Ghana Conference (SWGC) in Takoradi at the weekend. It was on the theme "Educating the Ghanaian Worker of the Dangers posed by HIV/AIDS."

He said the disease could result in low productivity, unemployment, dependency and the diminishing of large human resources. Mr Ahiable appealed to the Church to show love for people living with the disease and help to find appropriate drugs that could prolong their lives.

Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, urged churches to promote behavioural change and counselling services for their members on the dangers of the disease.

She said HIV/AIDS infection was not limited to one particular age group or tribe.

"Christians must learn to accept AIDS patients in their fold, share their concerns and avoid discriminating against them." Pastor Timothy Ocran, President of SWGC, said the church was determined to change public attitudes and policies and speak publicly about AIDS prevention.

He said the Church would seek ways to respond to some of the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

He said counselling centres would be established in the various SDA churches in the region while others would be equipped to offer house-to-house counselling.