The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), an international NGO operating in the country, last Friday organised a one-day seminar on HIV/AIDs and child protection for thirty teachers from Ebeneza School in Jeshwang.

ADRA has always been assisting in primary health care and basic education including a water project in Makumbaya and sponsoring 48 girls from Ebeneza school. In his remarks at the start of the training, Landing B Sanneh, the programme director of ADRA, described the one-day seminar as crucial noting that HIV/AIDs is a threat to the world. According to him, the objective of the seminar is to increase the awareness of teachers on HIV/AIDs and child protection since they are a major stakeholders in the development of children.

He revealed that their further intervention will target food security, especially on horticultural development, as well as relief services, adding that ADRA is out to complement government’s  efforts.

Presenting the status of HIV/AIDs in Africa, Mustapha Kebbeh, described  Sub-saharan Africa as the most  affected continent in the world. He reiterated the absence of massive and expanded prevention, treatment and care. He added that it is expected that the death toll from AIDs in sub-Saharan Africa will continue to rise, noting that its social and economic consequences are widely felt, not only in the health sector, but also in education and the  economy in general.

Njundu Drammeh of CPA also made a comprehensive presentation on child protection.