UN holds workshop for chiefs and queen mothers on HIV/AIDS

Mrs Joana Opare, the Director of United Nations System Gender Programme, on Wednesday appealed to chiefs and queen mothers to commit themselves to the fight against the HIV/AIDS in their communities.

Speaking at a two-day workshop for chiefs and queen mothers in the Volta Region Mrs Opare appealed to them to address the issue of how to get men to reduce their high-risk sexual behavioural practices.

She cited instances where some men have developed appetite for multiple sexual partners, engaging in extra-marital and unprotected sex including commercial sex workers.

Mrs Opare told the 70 participants that "we must engage men and boys as partners who take responsibility for their sexual behaviour and who respect the rights of women and girls."

She said she hoped the participants would see the workshop, which has the theme "Stepping up HIV/AIDS prevention campaign from a gender perspective - the role of chiefs and queen mothers" as an opportunity to enhance their knowledge on gender and HIV/AIDS.

Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, in an address read for him, appealed to groups engaged in the campaign against HIV/AIDS to focus on other means of transmission other than through sex and sex related activities.

He mentioned sharing of razors, needles or syringes with someone with HIV/AIDS as other means of infection, which must be highlighted.

Mr Mawutor Goh, the Ho District Chief Executive, urged them to lay emphasis on the education of girls to enable them to take decisions on their own.

He said the awareness of the disease had been created and what was left was attitude change among the youth.