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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has begun intensive HIV/AIDS education in Basic Schools in the Eastern Region.
So far, about 400 Basic School pupils at Akwadum in the New Juabeng North of the Eastern Region have undergone some level of education on the disease and how the virus is transmitted.
The education comes after statistics from the National STIs and HIV/AIDS Control Programme showed that a total of 23,495 people tested positive for HIV in the first half of 2022.
According to Elizabeth Owusu, a Public Health Nurse at the St. Joseph Hospital in Koforidua, who is part of the trainers HIV education has become imperative following the upsurge in the number of infected persons.
“We are here to educate the students on how HIV is transmitted and the modes of prevention…because as we have heard in the news the figures are increasing. We have taught them that parents can transmit it to children during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. We have also informed them to be mindful of sharp objects which could be a source of infection when it cuts them after it has been in contact with an infected person…”
The Public Health Nurse also informed pupils to shy away from sex, especially unprotected sex as well as sexual-related activities.
Madam Elizabeth Owusu further warned pupils to desist from anal sex and homosexual behaviours that have the tendency to get people infected with the virus.
“Pupils should stay away from sex because they are not of an age but even if they would engage in that they should use protection…They should stop injecting themselves too with substances…”
she urged pregnant women to visit the hospital regularly and check their HIV status often to protect their unborn children.
