Assembly disburses funds for AIDS programmes

Techiman District Assembly has disbursed 120 million cedis to 10 groups under the District Response Initiative (DRI) on HIV/AIDS programmes.

The programme is funded by the Ghana National AIDS Commission and is aimed at sensitising the public on HIV/AIDS and preventive measures.

Mr Agyeman Badu, Techiman District budget analyst and focal person disclosed this at a general meeting with a representative committee of the DRI at Techiman.

He said Friends of the Sick received 14.175 million cedis, Watchout, 12.1 million cedis, Aworowa community CBO, 11.5 million cedis, while Youth Advocacy Movement had 12 million cedis.

The women's wing of Bissa Youth association had 12 million cedis, Asupah community based organization, 12.4 million cedis, Full Life, 12 million cedis, Oforikrom community, 12.5 million, Kutabom, 11.325 million cedis and Ahenbronoso community, 10 million cedis.

Mr Agyeman-Badu said the beneficiary groups were selected, based on the modalities of their applications to the National Aids Commission.

Mr. Agyeman-Badu said the groups had been offered training on how to use the monies judiciously, adding that a committee would monitor their activities monthly.

Mr Isaac Osei-Antwi, District Chief Executive, asked the committee to extend their activities to second cycle schools, churches, mosques and social gatherings.

He urged members of the committee to communicate the reality of HIV/AIDS to the grassroots of the society and help to disabuse the minds of the belief that HIV/AIDS victims were killed by a curse by Boakyiriwaa", a powerful fetish shrine in the district.

Mr David Dramani Yaro, District Co-ordinator for Techiman, entreated members of the DRI to seriously tackle whatever schedule would be entrusted to them.

He called on members to present reports at committee meetings to enable focal persons to compile data reports on HIV/AIDS programmes to AIDS Commission to enhance its work.

Dr George Bonsu, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services commended members of the DRI for their immense contribution to awareness creation on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the district.