NSS contributes 37 billion cedis in savings to economy

The posting of National Service Personnel annually to various ministries and departments, saves the government about 37 billion cedis yearly in terms of the payment of salaries and wages to workers.

In the private sector also 500 million cedis is saved every month with the use of service personnel. Mr Alhassan Imoro, Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Service Scheme (NSS) said this when he launched this years celebration of the National Service Week in the Northern Region at Tamale on Tuesday.

The theme for the celebration is, "Prevention of HIV/AIDS And Indiscipline In Schools - The Role Of The National Service Personnel". Mr Imoro said national service personnel could provide a platform in mobilising educational institutions and communities in the fight against AIDS, taking into account the successful role they played during the school mapping out exercise and the guineaworm eradication programme.

Speaking on HIV/AIDS, Hajia Yeni Adeniji of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic of the Tamale Regional Hospital and Mr Alhassan Issahaku Amadu, Northern Regional Population Officer both warned the youth against indiscriminate sex.

Four point four (4.4) billion women, they said undergo abortion world-wide yearly. Mr Amadu said 129 orphans have been recorded in the country since 1999 as a result of their parents dying from HIV/AIDS.

Mr I.P.S. Zakaria-Saa of the National Council on Women and Development, speaking on the topic: "Indiscipline In Schools", cautioned parents about the way they train their children.

He said a permissive society encourages indiscipline and waywardness among the youth. Mr Alidu Rashid, Northern Regional Vice Chairman of NASPA expressed concern over the spread of HIV/AIDS and appealed to religious and traditional rulers to help combat it.