Workshop on HIV/AIDS education material

Bolgatanga, Jan. 24, GNA - A two-day workshop for peer educators in HIV/AIDS education material development for schools has ended in Bolgatanga.

Participants were drawn from all the eight districts in the Upper East Region.

In an address, Mr. Anthony Aziaba, Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Education, advised the participants to practice abstinence from sex to curb the spread of the AIDS pandemic. Mr. Aziaba said sex was for procreation and as pupils were not matured enough they should avoid casual sex and rather concentrate on their studies.

He noted that the youth were vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS pandemic despite the many interventions and sensitisations and expressed the hope that with the development of materials for school based interventions the message would be understood and a change in attitude towards casual sex effected.

Madam Sylvia Samari, Upper East Regional Coordinator of the School Health Programme (SHEP) urged the participants to be ambassadors of the HIV/AIDS education in their schools and districts.

Madam Samari said with the training at the workshop and the experiences shared on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, participants would be able to apply what they had learnt towards the attainment of behavioural change towards sex and issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS.

She commended Community Partners in Health Development and UNICEF for sponsoring the workshop,