Youth Sensitised On HIV/AIDS Through Sports

Madam Jane Oku, the Chief Executive Officer of Janok Foundation, a community-based organisation at Sabon Zongo, has advised the youth to be conscious of the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

She advised them to avoid casual sex and rather direct their energies towards skills training for national development.

Madam Oku gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, when her Foundation organised a football tournament for the youth at Town Council Line in Accra to create awareness on HIV/ AIDS and TB, which are having a devastating effect on the lives of the youth.

She urged them to engage themselves in sporting activities, which would prevent them from indulging in anti-social practices, to carve a good character for their future.

'As an organisation we believe that mobilising the youth in sports, especially football, is an important way to assist in curbing the HIV/AIDS menace among them at the community level,' the CEO said.

Madam Oku said sexual and reproductive health of the youth was increasingly becoming a serious problem and assured that her NGO would not rest on its oars in sensitising the people on the dangers of HIV/ AIDS and TB.

She said HIV infection weakens the human immune system and creates chances for opportunistic diseases like TB to set in, and people infested were most likely to spread it to others and urged patients to seek early treatment.

She said the TB disease is caused by a bacteria called 'mycobacterium' which attacks any part of the body, but usually the lungs, which results in coughing, lasting more than two weeks.

Mr Peter Ahmed Tee, Assemblyman for Sukura, Mr Gambo Wangabi, Assemblyman for Town Council Line and Mr Joseph Addo, Assemblyman for James Town, all in Accra, graced the event and expressed gratitude to the NGO for promoting health and education in the communities.