19 pregnant women test HIV positive in Sunyani-West

Nineteen (19) pregnant women in the Sunyani-West District have tested positive for HIV infection, Mrs. Eva Aryee, the District Director of Health Services, has announced.

They were among 1,535 expectant mothers, tested in the facilities when they attended antenatal clinic between January and June.

Mrs. Aryee, speaking at a mid-year performance review meeting of the health directorate in Odumase, said 23 out of 340 people who opted to be voluntarily tested were also found to have become infected.

She told the meeting the disease was spreading in the area and said the situation was disturbing with the prevalence rate now standing at 2.24 per cent.

She therefore called for concerted effort by all stakeholders to halt the spread.

Mrs. Aryee indicated that malaria continued to top Out-Patients Department (OPD) cases in the district and advised, especially pregnant and nursing mothers, to sleep under insecticide treated nets.

Out of the 68,592 OPD cases seen during the first half of the year, 59,668 were malaria.

She applauded the collaboration and tremendous support the health directorate was receiving from ‘MAP Ghana’ and Mission of Hope Society, both NGOs, towards improving the quality of health care to the people.

Mrs. Aryee reminded the health workers to maintain high standards of professionalism and to submit regular reports on their activities for proper planning and programmes implementation.