Adugyama (Ash), April 3, GNA-Mr John Asamoah, Ahafo-Ano South District Community Development Officer, has advised the youth not to take the existence of HIV/AIDS for granted since it is real and the incidence is on the ascendancy.

He said the fact that only 42 infections were recorded in 1986 but has now spread to infect thousands of innocent people, was ample evidence that the pandemic was fast spreading.

Mr Asamoah gave the advice when he addressed a day's seminar on HIV/AIDS for seamstresses and tailors at Adugyama at the weekend. It was organised by the Prevention AIDS Club, a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) and was aimed at sensitising the participants more on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Madam Felicia Banson, a public health nurse from the Mankranso district hospital, urged the youth in particular to avoid falling prey to the disease by striving at all times to associate with decent and morally upright friends.

She said even though it might be difficult, it behoves on them to avoid casual sex and all forms of drug abuse since such practices could lead them to contract the disease.

On his part, Mr Musah Yusif, assemblyman for Adugyama Zongo, commended the district health directorate and the district assembly for their concern in combating the HIV/AIDS in the district as evidenced in the various support packages given organisations to educate people on the menace.