The Gomoa East District Assembly has prepared a strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS from 2009-2012. This was disclosed at a workshop at Gomoa Afranse to brief stakeholders including chiefs, queenmothers, teachers, students and workers of the hospitality industry on their roles in fighting the disease. Mr. Eric Akobeng District HIV/AIDS Focal persons pointed out that they needed a multi-faceted approach in fighting the disease. He said the disease could no longer be regarded as a health problem alone since it had transcended into economic and social spheres of the society. Mr. Akobeng, who is also the District Budget Analyst, noted that HIV/AIDS was becoming chronic in Africa because the leaders were not making much effort to prevent it. He urged leaders on the continent to support and invest in research on vaccines to prevent infection of the disease. Mr. Akobeng pointed out that since the types of virus pertaining in Europe, Asia and America differed from what obtained in Africa, research findings from those continents might not be applicable in Africa. He urged medical doctors and traditional medicine practitioners to intensify research into, at least production of vaccines to control the virus in the affected persons. Mr. Akobeng commended the Ghana AIDS Commission on deciding to limit attention on care and support for the few people with the disease and concentrate more on preventing the majority of the population from being infected. Mr. McJewells Annan, District Chief Executive, pledged the assembly’s commitment in implementing the plan to reduce the infection rate in the area. Source: GNA