Dr. Evelyn Kumi Richardson got alarmed on Wednesday when findings of a report on HIV Prevalence rate in the Municipality was presented to her by the Municipal HIV committee.

The MCE, in commenting on the outcome of the report, appealed to Ghanaians, not to stigmatize against people living with the disease but rather show them love.

“No matter how they got it let us not stigmatize them but show them love and passion so that they do not keep the disease to themselves and spread it”, she emphasized.

She encouraged infected persons to be bold to see a doctor so that they could be put on anti-retroviral drugs to enable them live long and contribute to national development.

Speaking on the findings, the Municipal HIV Focal Person, Mrs. Theresa Adjei Mensah, disclosed that teenagers from 15-19 were the most affected, with 7.1% , 20- 24, 2.2% , 25-29, 1.9%, 30-34, 7.3%, 35-39, 1.4%, 40-44, 5.3% in that order.

She noted that on regional basis, the report indicated that Brong-Ahafo Region was at par with the Volta region for the first place at the National prevalence rate of 2.7%, and therefore called for a holistic approach to addressing the situation.

Mrs. Theresa Adjei Mensah expressed worry that if Antenatal records in the country alone can produce these results, there was the need to put in pragmatic measures to contain its spread.

She mentioned sensitization, publicity campaign, education among the youth and training of trainees of Teachers as measures designed by the committee to combat the upsurge of the menace in the municipality.

She added that the committee will visit the traditional council to present the report and share with the chiefs and the Assembly for a lasting solution to the problem.

–

By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post MCE worried over HIV prevalence rate in Sunyani appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Northern Region registered the lowest prevalence rate, recording 0.7 per cent.

Figures for other regions

The prevalence rate for the other regions are:

Eastern – 2.6 per cent,

Ashanti – 2.6 per cent,

Western – 2.5 per cent,

Upper West – 2.5 per cent,

Greater Accra – 2.4 per cent,

Central – 1.8 per cent

Upper East – 1.7 per cent.

HIV prevalence was higher in urban areas hitting 2.5 per cent, compared to 1.9 per cent for rural areas.

The 2016 HIV sentinel survey report revealed that the young population between the ages of 15 and 24, a proxy for new infections remained unchanged at 1.1 per cent.

HIV among pregnant women increase

The National AIDS Control Programme said the report shows an increase in prevalence rate among pregnant women – representing a second consecutive time of rising incidence among the Ghanaian pregnant women.

Second consecutive upsurges

According to the report, the HIV prevalence for 2016 of 2.4 per cent represents a second consecutive upsurge from the 2014 prevalence of 1.6 per cent and 1.8 per cent in 2015.

HIV prevalence among ages 45-49 highest
It revealed that HIV prevalence by age group 45-49 is highest at 5.6% followed by 35-39 with 15-19 being the lowest at 0.6 per cent.

Agormanya, Sunynai top urban sites

The highest prevalence within urban sites was 4.2 per cent in Agormanya in the Eastern Region and Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region with Wa in the Upper West Region with 3.7 per cent.

Rural prevalence highest at Fanteakwa

Rural prevalence ranged from 0.5. per cent in Builsa in the Upper East Region, Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region and Salaga in the Northern Region to 3.3 per cent in Fanteakwa in the Eastern Region.

Types of HIV recorded in 2016

According to the report, the proportion of HIV subtype 1 is 98.5 per cent compared to 1.5 per cent for dual HIV type 1 and 2 infections while there was no HIV type 2 infection.

Syphilis figures

It said median syphilis prevalence for 2016 is 0.2 per cent and the regional syphilis infections ranged from zero in Brong Ahafo and Upper East regions to 0.8 per cent in the Central Region.

The HIV sentinel survey is a cross-sectional survey targeting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in selected areas in the country.

In the last 11 years, health officials say, the HIV Sentinel Survey data have been used as the primary data source for the National HIV and AIDS estimates.

–

Source: Finder Newspaper

The post Volta, Brong Ahafo top HIV prevalence cases for 2016 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.