Stakeholders in campaign against HIV/AIDS urged to change focus

Asunsu No. 1 (B/A), Sept. 21, GNA - Squadron Leader Benjamin Anane Asamoah (rtd), Dormaa District Chief Executive, has charged organisations involved in the fight against AIDS in the district to shift focus from awareness creation to behavioural change among the people.

He said available figures from "credible sources" indicated that most Ghanaians had become aware of HIV/AIDS and what was needed was how to get them to change their behavioural pattern, to avoid contracting the pandemic.

The DCE made the call at an HIV/AIDS forum for the chiefs and people of Asunsu No. 1, near Dormaa-Ahenkro, organised by 'Life and Hope', a community- based organisation (CBO) that employs story telling methodology to enhance the capacity of communities on the pandemic. Squadron Leader Asamoah advised the youth to abstain from pre-marital sex and urged married couples to endeavour to be faithful to their partners.

He declared as alien, homosexuality and lesbianism that were gradually eating into Ghana's culture and urged traditional authorities, youth associations and female role models to champion the crusade against the practices.

The DCE called for the revival of traditional practices that could instil discipline in the youth.

He commended the CBO for developing the method, which allowed for audience participation and created an atmosphere for fruitful discussions.

Nana Akosua Yeboah, Queenmother of Asunsu No. 1, who presided, expressed gratitude to the District Assembly for the choice of the local Roman Catholic Primary School to benefit from the government's school feeding programme in the district.

She noted that the capitation grant and the feeding programmes "have come to relieve parents of basic financial problems and to whip up enthusiasm among children in their formal education". Nana Akosua Yeboah appealed to the Assembly to extend the Youth in Agriculture Project to the town to provide employment for the youth.