| By Kafui Amenu Prebbie
The programme took place on the campus of The University
Of Education, Winneba (UEW). The theme for the day was "HIV/AIDS
IS REAL, PLAY IT SAFE". The aim for the celebration as well
as choice of place was to create an awareness of the high
prevalence rate resulting in the rapid increase of the AIDS
infected and affected, yet little knowledge of it to the
entire university community and its environs. Line up of
activities included a dawn broadcast, a sporting activity
and a quiz to climax it.
As early as 5:45am, there was a dialogue in English and
the local dialect on the topic 'HIV/AIDS: Alarming Statistics'
on the University's radio station, Radio Windy Bay. This
centered on global statistics on AIDS and the kind of questions
that are often asked. For example, "Why do we still preach
AIDS when there are better things to talk about? Why use
condom when it takes away the pleasure of sex? and the like.
This dialogue lasted about 20 minutes.
At about 2:30pm, there was a football match at the sports
field at the northern campus of the University. The playing
teams were from The Nurses' Training School, Winneba and
the University. The students were grouped according to sex.
The curtain raiser was a very exciting match between the
females of Nurses Training and ladies from Simpa Hall of
the University, which lasted 20minutes, for each half. The
males had 30minutes of play in each half. During the breaks
in the matches, Mr. Kafui A Prebbie, the Country Director
and Mrs. Josephine Osei-Agyekum, a lecturer and resource
person from the Home Economics Department of the University,
educated the people gathered on AIDS. The fun games which
was aimed at promoting socialization, fostering partnerships
for addressing AIDS issues, was also to create a platform
to educate the general public on the need for behavioural
change whiles show casing AIDS Relief Foundation's programmes.
All sporting activities ended at about 5:30pm to make way
for the quiz. However the players and officials were refreshed
for the good work done.
The programme took of at the Southern assembly hall of
the University almost immediately. An opening prayer was
said by Madam Korley, a third year Special Education student
to initiate evening line up. The purpose of the gathering
was declared by the Master of Ceremony, Miss Opokua Ampadu-Sackey,
a third year English student. The Country Director then
gave a short welcome address and read a letter from the
Founder and International Director of AIDS Relief Foundation,
USA.
The quiz mistress, Mrs. Josephine Osei-Agyekum was introduced
after five men and a woman had taken their seats as contestants
for the quiz. The rules of the game were spelt out clearly
and the game began.
After a keen and lively contest in the first two rounds,
there was a break in the programme to make way for the national
news at 6pm. This was because the audience wanted to know
what was going on elsewhere locally and internationally.
The programme continued shortly afterwards with the third
and fourth rounds. At the end of the final round, and before
the prizes were given, Mr. Bridge Adams, the Youth Director
of African Americans Against AIDS in Africa (a5coalition),
-a Non Governmental Organisation- who was the special guest
at the programme, gave a short address.
At the end of the day Mr. Vincent Mensah, a student of
the University emerged winner. He took home as his price
�50,000, a CD Rom on HIV/AIDS and a book. The next three
had a book, some money and a CD each. The National Union
Of Ghana Students' Women's Commissioner, UEW helped the
Country Director in the presentation of prizes. The resource
person, who was the quiz mistress, addressed the gathering
after this. There was a lot of interaction here as the audience
had a lot of questions to ask. In all about a hundred people
witnessed the show and it was aired live on Radio Windy
Bay.
The programme ended at exactly 8:10pm after Miss Opokua
Ampadu-Sackey had given the closing prayer. All present
were refreshed and there was more interaction between the
audience, the guest and the resource person. |