Tornado Alley (PROG)

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(COMTEX) B: HIV/Aids Cases Shoot Up in Asante-Akim North

Konongo, Apr 27, 2005 (Ghanaian Chronicle/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX)
-- The Deputy Co-ordinating Director for Asante Akim North, Mr. Saaka Dramani,
who is also the district's focal person on HIV/AIDS, has stated that the
HIV/AIDS pandemic is increasing in the District.

He pointed out that 205 cases were recorded at the Konongo-Odumasi Government
Hospital last year, yet still more people are believed to have been infected.

He said this during the inauguration of the Odumase "Evangelist of AIDS Victim
association" at Odumase in the Asante Akim North District, last week.

The theme for the occasion was, "Beware, AIDS is real." Mr. Dramani noted with
regret that, out of 21 Districts in the Ashanti Region, the Asante Akim North
District took the 7th position as far as the HI/AIDS pandemic is concerned.

He said the disease had negative effects on the socio-economic development of
the society, hence the need to educate the public on its dangers.

He further advised various communities to form virgin clubs and teach the youth
in details about the disease and its negative effect on human beings and the
economy as a whole.

Mr. Francis Appiadu, Urban Council chairman, who chaired the function, urged the
participants at the inauguration to dress decently to avoid immoral and illicit
sexual practices.

He said during the HIV/AIDS camping, focal persons normally share out condoms to
the participants, which practice he said is not good because to him, it means
they are promoting HIV/AIDS in the country.

"Abstinence is the best way to combat HIV/AIDS," he stated and advised the young
ladies to refrain from casual sex because, according to medical report, 63% of
those affected by HIV/AIDS are women.

The chairman of the "Evangelist of Aids Victim," Mr. Baffour Awuah, appealed to
the Ghana AIDS Commission to give them the necessary logistics to enable them
work effectively.

by Dominic Kumi

Copyright Ghanaian Chronicle. Distributed by All Africa Global
Media(AllAfrica.com)

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