Ashaiman, Jan. 28, GNA – The Church of Christ Junior High School (JHS) in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region has won the maiden Municipal HIV/AIDS quiz organized by the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission.
The Church of Christ JHS beat five others to emerge winner of the maiden Municipal HIV AIDS quiz competition held at the St Augustine Catholic Church in Ashaiman.
Mrs Rose Joyce Appoh-Binney, Ashaiman Municipal Education Director, commended the organizers for the educative quiz to help sensitize the students on some of the compelling issues associated with the HIV/AIDS virus.
Mrs Appoh-Binney said students were channels through which important information could be disseminated to the masses, adding that the education on HIV and its associated issues would help reduce the spread and the stigma attached to the virus.
The Ashaiman Municipal Education Director advised teachers to take up the challenge and educate the students not to stigmatize people who they believe were living with HIV in the communities.
She explained that living with the virus was not a death sentence, stressing that one could live for a longer period provided they took their medications seriously.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Seth Ocloo Assembly Member for the Obaaakatse Electoral Area in Ashaiman, noted that the quiz competition was a step in the right direction.
He said the students needed to be well informed about HIV/AIDS and said the quiz competition should be replicated in both private and public schools across the Ashaiman Municipality.
The Ghana News Agency observed six schools which included; St Augustine Junior High School, Ejiri Nyarko JHS, Crystal Wilhelm JHS, Pentecost Preparatory School, Christ Family School and the winning Church of Christ Junior High School participated in the quiz competition.
Meanwhile, Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager, National AIDS/STI Control Programme, has reminded Ghanaians of the need for a comprehensive education to control HIV and AIDS.
He said there was a need to empower young girls through education to prevent HIV transmission considering the recent records of new infections, stressing that adolescent clubs were created for the girls to reach out to them through empowerment on their rights and assertiveness to ward off abusers.
He said there was the need to intensify sex education with emphasis on preventive measures.
GNA