HIV declines in Ho

Data from the 2013 sentinel Surveillance shows that HIV cases have dipped in Ho from a prevalence of 1.6 per cent in 2012 to 0.6 per cent in 2013.

The Volta Regional capital recorded 2.6 per cent HIV cases in 2011 from two per cent in 2010, Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu, the Ho Municipal Director of Health Services, said on Thursday.

He was addressing a two-day annual performance review of the Health Services in Ho on the theme, “Achieving excellence and improved service delivery outcomes through effective linkage between public health and clinical care.”

Dr. Seake-Kwawu said the decline in HIV cases meant that only six HIV cases could be detected when 1,000 pregnant women were tested in the Municipality and described it as “very positive.”

He attributed the feat to public education, continuous testing and counseling and regular “know your status” campaigns.

Dr Seake-Kwawu commended NGOs, traditional authorities and other stakeholders for efforts at bringing the cases down but warned against complacency.

He said the campaign on the use of condoms and other protective measures must not relapse else the success would be reversed.

“We must not stop the use of condoms,” Dr Seake-Kwawu said.