An officer at the Central Regional Health Directorate, Matthew Ahwireng has urged people desirous of entering into marriage to go for an HIV test before marriage. Knowing one's status, he said, would enable people to decide whether to proceed or abandon marriage plans. Mr. Ahwireng made the appeal at a community programme organised by The New Society (TNS) an NGO, at Abura in Cape Coast. The programme sought to educate the public on sexually transmitted infections and the need to encourage the youth to refrain from acts that would ruin their future. Mr. Ahwireng further explained that knowing one's HIV status would curb further infections. He underscored the need for people to go for HIV counseling and testing services, and urged the youth to avoid negative practices that would contribute to their being infected with the virus. "HIV is real and we must not do anything that will result in us regretting in the future," he added. A lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ms Comfort Asante, in an address, urged the youth to abstain from sex till marriage. Such a stance, she said would enable them to plan their future and also concentrate on their academic work. She urged them to exercise self control at all times and not allow circumstances to sway them. Source: Ghanaian Times/Ghana