By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Akplabanya, Jan. 07, GNA – Naana Kakie, Chief Executive Officer of Naana Kakie Foundation, a non-governmental organisation on HIV/AIDS awareness, has urged the youth to always practice safe sex to protect themselves and families from sexually transmitted diseases.
Naana Kakie disclosed that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was fast spreading among the youth, hence the need for safe sex practice.
She said this at Akplabanya in the Ada West District during a welcome durbar in honour of Miss Helena Adiki Ozor, winner of GaDangme Bi Yoo 2024.
“I implore you, especially the youth, to practice safe sex and protect yourselves and your families,” she said, disclosing that data on HIV/AIDS showed that over 5,000 individuals living with HIV in Ada, and about 2,200 of them being on antiretroviral treatment.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Naana Kakie disclosed that Ada was known for its beautiful tourism attractions, which attracted visitors daily to the town, creating an opportunity for the youth to engage in all manner of activities; therefore, the need to caution the youth to be wary of every action they involved themselves in, especially things that would have an impact on their future.
She noted that most youth engaged in sexual activities for pleasure or fun and therefore sometimes ignored the caution about the existence of HIV/AIDS.
She encouraged people diagnosed with HIV to religiously follow their treatment instead of resorting to religious and other forms of treatment.
“It will surprise you that people run to prayer camps for prayers after being diagnosed with HIV. We all believe that prayer is good and there are miracles, but if you are diagnosed with HIV and you go to a prayer centre, it may increase the rate at which it spreads in your body,” she stressed.
She explained that such prayer camps would subscribe fasting, which would weaken the immune system of the HIV patient, rendering their system very weak to stand the virus, adding that such persons only rush to the hospitals after the HIV had grown into AIDS, which has no cure.
Naana Kakie, who was also the second runner-up of the Ga-Dangme Bi Yoo pageant in 2023, noted that the pageant served as an exceptional learning platform for indigenous Ga-Dangme people and urged the organisers to consider awarding the winner with a car to enable the winner to embark on her project easily.
“I encourage Adiki and fellow Ga-Dangme Bi Yoo Queens to initiate their projects promptly, fostering development in our Ga-Dangme states. I assure you of my support in your endeavours, striving for a united Ga-Dangme front,” she said.
GNA