Ghana records 80% increase in HIV in 2017 — Report
The 2017 Ghana AIDS Commission report on HIV/AIDS infection shows an 80% increases in new cases.
The report also indicates that the Volta Region and Brong Ahafo Region topped the chart of HIV/AIDS prevalence.
The findings were revealed at the Commission’s two–day annual strategic planning meeting.
The Ghana AIDS Commission is, therefore, asking Ghanaians to be extra careful in order not to contract the deadly disease.
Director-General of the Commission, Ambassador Dr Amokowa Blay Adu-Gyamfi made a passionate appeal to Ghanaians to voluntarily test for the virus.
She asked persons living with the virus to stick to the approved anti-retroviral drugs because there was no herbal cure for the disease yet.
“We are not condemning them (herbalist), we are just saying that there is no herbal cure as yet for HIV. If you want to take them it’s up to you. But then take your anti-retroviral medication,” she said.
She said the activities of the gay community – the key population – are to blame for the sharp increase in HIV infection.
A large proportion of the new HIV/AIDS cases were pregnant women, the report also revealed.
Meanwhile Nigeria had the second largest HIV epidemic in 2016, with over 196,000 adolescents representing 10 per cent of the global burden said to be living with HIV/AIDS, according to a World Health Report.
The report was given by Mrs Esther Samuel, The Chief Matron, Lagos State Ministry of Health, at a programme by a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) Lisa Demi Project, in Lagos. AIDS SYMBOL Newsmen report that Lisa Demi Project, initiated in the U.K., seeks address the sexual health issues through Talks, Counselling and Entertainment among others.
The programme, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos on Thursday, and title “ Let’s Talk about Our Sexual Health’’, is targeted at teenagers between the ages 14 to 24. Speaking on the dangers of unrestrained sexual activities among the youths, Samuel said the statistics from the health sector remained a concern.
