Hundreds Mark World Aids Day In Lawra District

Some of the AIDS Volunteers on the streets of Lawra

On World Aids Day, on Saturday 1 December, hundreds of people of various ages gathered in a huge flash mob in the streets of Lawra, Upper West Region, to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.

The event, organised by The Lawra Youngsters Association, their patroness Janette Ambauen, Peace Corps volunteers and VSO volunteers, was a huge success.

Communities from the Lawra district joined together to parade through Lawra wearing red t-shirts, finishing the demonstration with a vibrant choreographed dance in the centre of town. Activities throughout the day included free HIV testing, a presentation about HIV, an Azonto dance competition and a quiz.

Habib Albeboure, a community educator from Lawra said: “On Saturday plenty of residents of Lawra district were given a free HIV test. If we want to reduce infection, we must encourage more people to get tested and know their HIV status”.

Sarah Gardner, a VSO volunteer in Lawra said: “In Ghana, it is estimated that 260,000 people – 1.8% of the population – are living with HIV but in Lawra the percentage is much higher. There is still a lot of stigma around HIV and AIDS but if we all continue to raise awareness, the goal of reducing HIV by 2015 can be achieved”.