Twifo Praso (C/R), Dec. 5, GNA - The management of Twifo Oil Palm Plantation (TOPP) and Twifo Praso Area Development Programme of World Vision, Ghana, was on Sunday commended for the enormous services they are rendering in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District of the Central Region. Mr Samuel Yaw Agyeibie-Kessie, the District Chief Executive (DCE) made the commendation at the launching of a "Know Your Status" campaign by TOPP at Twifo Praso.

TOPP has already launched the campaign at Ntafrewaso, Mampong, Hemang and Eduabeng.

The DCE said the Ghana AIDS Commission has so far disbursed 865 million cedis, and the District Assembly also providing 50 million cedis to support HIV/AIDS activities in the district, to enhance support and care for victims of the disease.

He stressed the importance of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in the fight against the disease, adding, "it is a must for all and sundry, if we are to win our relentless national war against the HIV/AIDS pandemic" and urged all Ghanaians to embrace it. The DCE, described VCT as an entry point for HIV /AIDS care and prevention and among others, reduces fear, anxiety and helplessness about past risky behaviours and urged the people in the district to use the VCT facilities provided free of charge by TOPP and the Ghana AIDS Commission.

Dr Cyril Kwame Krah, Medical Officer at TOPP, who launched the campaign, said nine out of 109 people screened, tested positive, since the campaign was launched in June this year.

He later introduced 54 peer educators to the gathering and appealed to the public to co-operate with them in the discharge of their duties.