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27.06.2011 Health

SS Foundation to fight HIV infections among youth

By Ghanaian Chronicle
Angela El-Adas, D-G, Ghana AIDS CommissionAngela El-Adas, D-G, Ghana AIDS Commission
27.06.2011 LISTEN

Social Support Foundation (SSF), an Obuasi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has launched a project to reduce HIV infection among the youth in seven communities in the Adansi North district of the Ashanti Region.

The communities are Sofo Akura, Abedwum, Akrokerrifie, Bobraase, Kwapia, Wioso and Akrokerri Zongo. The project, which is being funded by Family Health International, is expected to end by November 30.

Speaking at the pre-implementation stakeholders' meeting at Akrokerri, Mr. Boakye Mensah Joel, Project Officer of SSF, explained that the project, among other things, seeks to reduce new HIV infections among the youth in the selected communities.

He described as worrying a report in 2009, which stated that people aged 15-24 accounted for 41% of new infections, adding, 'Among the 10 to 19 year age group, new data shows an estimated 2,000,000 adolescents are living with HIV.'

The Project Officer added that it had targeted to reach 4,000 allied population in and around the Akrokerri College of Education (ACE) with HIV prevention information, through peer education by the end of November.

'Other areas will be to promote Counseling and Test services to 500 young people in and around the ACE by the end of November, and also to strengthen partnerships with STI and HIV service delivery points, to promote referral,' he added.

He was hopeful the project would be extended so that more communities would be covered.

Stakeholders at the meeting included chiefs, assembly members, opinion leaders and peer educators.

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