Cape Coast University students receive award for campaigning against

AIDS

Cape Coast, Mar. 15, GNA- Forty students of the University of Cape Coast were on Saturday, presented with the 'Head of State's Award' for undertaking a campaign to enhance awareness of the HIV/AIDS in remote areas in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District.

The students, who are members of Save Youth Foundation (SYF), an NGO based at the University dwelt on the importance of educating girls, and on the need to help ensure the effective development of the youth into responsible adulthood.

They were presented with certificates and badges by Nana Ato Arthur, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), who stood in for the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze.

The DCE expressed concern that in spite of the fact that education holds the key to poverty eradication in the country, standards of education continue to fall in the rural areas.

Nana Arthur asked the students to adhere to the objectives of the foundation, so as to assist in solving the numerous problems facing the rural folks.

Mr Alexander Nartey, president and founder of SYF, in a welcoming address, said it was time students changed their perceptions about being solely out to attain academic laurels, and got involved in other activities, which would help promote socio-economic development of societies.

He pointed out that there was the need for them to be dynamic and urged more students to join the foundation in order to assist in the solution of problems in deprived areas.

He appealed to donor organisations, philanthropists and other NGO's to assist the SYF with sponsorship packages to enable it extend its programmes to many communities in the region.

Professor Victor Gadzekpo, Dean of the Faculty of Science, who chaired the function, congratulated the students who have won the award for two consecutive times, describing it as " another feather to the cap of the UCC".

He urged them to accept wherever they might be posted to do their national service, since that is the only way they could best serve the nation.

The SYF was formed in the year 2000 and won its first award in 2002.