Aids on the increase in Brong Ahafo

Sunyani (Bronga Ahafo), 31st May 99 -

Four hundred and sixty-seven (467) new cases of Acquired Immune Defiency Syndrome (AIDS) were recorded in the first quarter of this year in the Brong Ahafo region.

The figure represents 26 per cent increase over the 372 cases of the disease recorded in the region over the same period last year.

This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Kofi Asare at an inter-schools quiz competition on HIV/AIDS, held at the Sunyani Secondary School as part of activities marking the HIV/AIDS month in the region.

The quiz, contested between three senior secondary schools in the Sunyani district saw Sunyani Secondary and St James Seminary jointly placing first with 20 points whilst Odumaseman Secondary School placed second with 19 points.

Dr Asare said last year alone, 1,368 AIDS cases were recorded in the region with men accounting for 648 of the cases and the remaining 720 cases being females.

He stated that the most affected group of persons are the youth between the ages of 20 and 39, who accounted for 66 per cent of all reported cases.

Dr Asare described the HIV/AIDS statistics in the region as alarming and cautioned the youth to desist from unprotected and pre-marital sex in order to avoid contracting the disease.

He warned females between the ages of 15 and 19 years against pre-marital sex as they are six times more likely to contract the disease than their male counterparts due to their biological and economic vulnerability.

Dr John Williams, Medical Officer in charge of the sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic at Sunyani Government Hospital said the quiz contest is part of strategies being adopted to create greater awareness of the disease among the youth.

Dr Williams said because the youth are the most vulnerable demographic group affected and infected by the AIDS menace, it is crucial that they are actively involved in HIV/AIDS prevention activities.

"As the most affected group, we need to promote young people's genuine participation in HIV/AIDS prevention activities and create the awareness of the impact of the disease to enable them live responsible sexual lives".

Mr William Supime, Regional Health Education Officer, who was the Quiz Master commended the students for displaying high knowledge of the HIV/AIDS and urged them to spread information on the disease to their colleagues.

Prizes including dictionaries, novels and cakes of soaps were presented to the three schools.

GRi?/