NGO assists the vulnerable at Wenchi

Nsawkaw, (B/A), Dec. 27, GNA - Brong-Ahafo Women Development Foundation, an NGO based at Wenchi has presented four bags of rice, 10 bags of wheat and six cartons of edible oil to 70 vulnerable people in newly-created Tain district.

The beneficiaries included people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans. Mr. Owuo Badu Yeboah, Project coordinator of the NGO, making the presentation at Nsawkaw expressed concern about the high rate of HIV/AIDS cases in the area and cautioned the youth against illicit sexual practices.

He noted with regret that most of the communities were on the border with Cote d'Ivoire and the youth, especially the unemployed and women, flocked to the neighboring country to engage in sexual promiscuity for money.

Mr. Yeboah admonished migrant farmers, travellers, traders and other business who had been transacting business to and from the district to the neighbouring country, to be wary of the disease. He said, the NGO had also been offering training in soap making, pomade processing, batik and tie and dye printing, to care givers of the vulnerable in Wenchi and Tain districts.

Mr. Yeboah thanked the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Catholic Relief Services for their support to the Foundation. Mr. Emmanuel S.K. Owusu, District Chief Executive, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended the NGO for the gesture. He said, the Assembly was assisting such people, saying it provided 20 million cedis this year towards the welfare of the people living with HGIV/AIDS.

Mr. Owusu said three other NGOs and four community based organizations in the district were carrying out an intensive education to sensitize the people on the causes, effects and preventive measures of the pandemic.

Madam Grace Pokuaa Tabiri, President of the NGO, said the foundation had registered more than 60 persons living with HIV/AIDS in the district, made up of 20 men, 45 women and five children. She called on the people to be very careful of their lifestyles to avoid contracting the pandemic.