Tema under threat of AIDS

By William A. Asiedu

Tema, the industrial hub of the nation is seriously being threatened by the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic as shown by records of full-blown AIDS cases available at the Tema General Hospital.

A senior nursing officer and the HIV/AIDS counsellor at the hospital, Ms. Augustina Andoh, said the hospital recorded as many as 282 full-blown AIDS cases from January to November, last year, as against 216 in 1998 and that the number of HIV carriers who reported to the hospital during the same period was 137 as against 83 in 1998.

She was speaking at a two-day youth music festival organised by the Youth World Enrichment Information Network (YUWEIN), a non-governmental organisation at Tema. The festival was held under the theme; New Millennium, New Attitude ? Kick Out HIV/AIDS And Other STDs Through Music. Ms Andoh charged religious leaders in the country to take the social lives of their followers seriously and provide them with practical guidelines that will make them appreciate the need to be morally upright. The head pastor of the Rhema Outreach Church, Rev. Otu Dzeagu cautioned that the this millennium would be a challenging one and that the youth would have to take the word of God seriously to be able to stand firm in the face of the challenges.

He said ?there are tough times ahead and it is only those who are strong in their relationship with the Lord that can survive the temptations of the times?. The President of YUWEIN, Mr. Peter K. Awidi, reminded the youth that religious faith alone cannot save them from the deadly HIV/AIDS if they continue to indulge in promiscuous sexual activities.

Touching on the theme of the festival, president said music is the expression of emotion and it is important that musicians compose songs that are edifying so as to promote morality among the youth.