Church urges religious bodies to help combat AIDS

Mankessim, (C/R), Dec. 7, GNA - The Central Regional Head of the United Pentecostal Church, Reverend P.K. Ankrah, has urged Christians and followers of other religious organizations in the country to pay serious attention to the national crusade against the HIV/AIDS.

They must also actively participate in programmes designed to improve the socio-economic conditions of communities in which they conduct their religious activities.

Rev. Ankrah was addressing the closing annual youth conference organized by youth leaders of the Church at Mankessim.

Delegates from the 12 districts in the region attended the meeting, which discussed matters affecting the Church and the nation.

Rev. Ankrah charged Christians to educate their children continuously on the AIDS pandemic to keep them fully abreast with the dangers, which the disease poses to the nation.

Pastor Justice K. Ansah, Central Regional Secretary of the United Pentecostal Church Youth Movement, and member of the Ghana Red Cross Society, described AIDS as "the most dangerous, deceitful, and destructive" health problem the world is currently grappling with.

Pastor Ansah appealed to Ghanaians not to joke with the AIDS issue but endeavour to discuss its implications with their family members, friends, and colleagues at their workplaces and marketing centres to help curb its infection.

He suggested to youth and other associations in churches to establish anti-HIV/AIDS education clubs to assist in the campaign against AIDS.