Mr. Kofi Lucas, National President of Network of Associations of Registered NGOs in Ghana, has urged stakeholders in national development to collaborate efforts in the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
He urged them to focus on the youth, who are vulnerable to the pandemic, and educate them to shun illicit sexual practices to save them from contracting the disease.
Mr. Lucas was addressing about 100 opinion leaders in the Nkoranza South District at an HIV/AIDS Advocacy Education and Sensitization workshop at Nkoranza under the theme, "AIDS is real".
The opinion leaders comprised Assembly Members, religious leaders, teachers, health workers, traditional rulers, the media, businessmen and women.
He expressed regret that despite the huge financial support from the Ghana AIDS Commission towards public educational programmes about the dangers of the pandemic, it continued to spread especially among the youth.
Mr. Lucas announced that the Network had planned to visit communities to present posters and flyers with pictures of HIV/AIDS victims to sensitize the people on the reality of the pandemic.
"The organization has decided to carry out such educational activity in five selected districts in Brong Ahafo, namely Nkoranza South, Nkoranza North, Pru, Sene and Atebubu", he said.
The national president appealed to the local council of churches and Pentecostal churches to play a leading role in the campaign against the pandemic to save the youth.
In an address read for him, Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive (DCE), lauded the efforts of the Ghana AIDS Commission towards the control of the pandemic in the country, and commended the Network for its invaluable role to sensitize the people about the dangers of the disease.
He gave the assurance that the District Assembly would offer the management of the NGO the necessary support in their programmes so they would achieve their set goal in combating the pandemic in the communities.
The DCE advised the NGO to ensure the judicious use of funds released to it and to involve community based organisations in its activities.
Mr. Patrick Amoateng, a student pharmacist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, advised the people to check their health status at hospitals against Hepatitis 'B' disease, saying medical research had revealed millions were dying of it.
The Reverend John Quayson, Superintendent Minister in charge of the Methodist Church at Nkoranza, in a welcoming address gave the assurance that religious leaders would not relent in their efforts in preaching against sexual promiscuity among the people.
Madam Eva Agbodo Saku, Nkoranza North District Public Health Nurse, disclosed that 206 out of a total of 2,566 persons who underwent tests at Saint Theresa's hospital between January and June this year were HIV positive.
Meanwhile five faith-based organisations in the five districts have signed a memorandum of understanding at Atebubu with the management of the Network with the commitment to joining the campaign against the spread of the pandemic.
The religious organisations, who are mainly members of the local council of churches and the Ghana Pentecostal Churches, are in the five districts of Atebubu-Amantin, Sene, Pru, Nkoranza North and Nkoranza South.
Mr. Lucas said the organisations were expected to engage in outreach programmes by visiting the people in their homes, market places, schools and other institutions, as well as prayer camps to sensitize the people on how the pandemic was destroying the youth in the country.
He disclosed that the management of the Network would develop a blue-print with the stakeholders in the five districts and come out with laudable development programmes to help improve the living conditions of the people.
Mr. Sanja Ninja, Atebubu-Amantin District Chief Executive, commended the religious organisations for taking up the challenge to help fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and other immoral activities among the people.