CBOs implementing AIDS Commission projects attend workshop

Mampong, April 20, GNA - A two-day workshop for Community Based Organisations (CBOs), implementing Ghana AIDS Commission funded projects has ended at Ashanti Mampong in the Sekyere West District of the Ashanti Region.

Performing the closing ceremony, the District Coordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah warned the beneficiary CBOs not to misuse the funds that had been given to them to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He said they should rather apply the funds judiciously to justify further support from the Commission and other funding agencies. Mr Appiah urged the CBOs to go beyond awareness creation to the adoption of innovative approaches to reduce stigmatisation and to promote behaviour change.

A total of 60 participants attended the workshop organised by the District Assembly for eight CBOs in the district and some decentralised government agencies.

Topics discussed included basic issues on HIV/AIDS education and prevention strategies, support die persons living with AIDS and stigmatisation.

Other topics included community involvement strategies, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), monitoring and evaluation and financial management.

The District HIV/AIDS Focal Person Ms Kwarteng said the objective of the workshop was to ensure that the CBOs put the funds provided by the AIDS Commission to good use.

She urged the Organisations to reach out to the youth, who were more vulnerable because of peer pressure, psychosocial and biological reasons.

Ms Kwarteng told the participants to discourage harmful traditional practices, which exposed females to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The District Focal Person said the Assembly would monitor the activities of the CBOs to ensure that they were doing the right thing in the communities.