The Mankessim Programme Area Manager of Plan, Ghana, a child-centred community development organisation, Mr Jacob Turkson, has called on parents and teachers to jointly educate children to have a better understanding of HIV/AIDS and sexual relationships to enable them avoid indulging in risky behaviours.
Mr Turkson said stepping up education of children against HIV/AIDS would make a great impact on the fight against the disease. "It is now a well known fact that children, who are regarded as window of life cannot be left out in the fight against HIV/AIDS".
He made the observation at a forum organised by Plan, Ghana at Baifikrom near Mankessim under a concept known as "Lesson for Life".
'Lesson for Life' is a public education and social mobilisation event launched in more than 100,000 formal and non-formal educational institutions in about 50 countries worldwide, including Ghana, on World AIDS Day.
Under the programme, children were organised to talk about and took actions to fight HIV/AIDS - how one could get it and how they should treat someone with the disease.
Children also discussed what constituted high risk activities and how to protect themselves and others against the disease.
After the lesson, children were encouraged to write down what they wanted to achieve in the fight against HIV/AIDS in a year's time.
Two children whose reports would be selected would be invited to participate in a forum to be organised by the National Coalition on Global Movement on Children in January 2005.
Mr Turkson urged stakeholders to create awareness on the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and also to offer care and support for those living with the disease.
Mr Reemans Osei Bonsu, Mfantseman District School Health Programme (SHEP) Co-ordinator, advised parents to provide their children, particularly girls, their basic needs to prevent them from becoming promiscuous.
Nana Efua Baifikrom, Nketiahemaa of Baifikrom expressed concern about a new phenomenon of playing music deep into the night after festivals and funerals and urged chiefs to initiate bye-laws against it.
A similar function also took place at Ekumfi Essuehyia.