'Stop spread of HIV in rural areas'

Ms Mary Salome Buobuor, acting Director of Health for the West Akyem Municipal, has called on stakeholders to join hands to fight the spread of HIV in rural areas.

She said poor sensitization about HIV/AIDS at the rural and the grassroots had resulted in many people in those areas contracting the disease due to ignorance and unprotected sex.

Ms Buobuor made the call at a community sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS.

It was organized by Free Word International and Youth Challenge International, all non- governmental organisations (NGO’s) at Brekumanso on Tuesday.

Ms Mary Buobuor said illegal abortion has increased in the area, recording 630 cases between 2010 and 2012.

She said that the municipality also recorded a total of 2,854 teenage pregnancies between the same periods.

Ms Buobuor said records available showed that most of the teenagers were between the ages of 14 and 17, who were supposed to be in school, but had dropped out of school due to the situation.

She called for concerted efforts from traditional authorities, religious bodies and stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the challenge in the municipality.

Ms Buobuor urged the youth to use certified condoms to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS and to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

“Let us all prevent the disease by knowing our HIV status and taking the needed preventive measures,” she said.

Ms Buobuor commended the two NGOs for collaborating to educate the communities on HIV/AIDS.