National HIV/AIDS Infection Rate Drops

A new survey on HIV/AIDS has shown that the national prevalent rate has reduced by 0.5 percent.

This brings the current to 3.1 percent from 3.6 in 2003.

The study, which was conducted nation-wide last year by the National AIDS Control Programme, NACP, covered a total of 35 communities, including rural areas.

According to the report there has been a dramatic reduction of HIV/AIDS infections in 14 areas, including Agomanya, Eikwe, Cape Coast and Kumasi.

But Agomanya, in the eastern region still tops the list of highest prevalence rate with 7.4 percent. The Programmes Manger of the NACP, Dr Nii Akwei Addo however said new cases of infections had been recorded in areas such as Ho and Fanteakwa.

The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Professor Sekyi Awuku Amoah welcomed the findings. But he called for an intensified campaign on HIV/AIDS to reduce the infection rate to an appreciable level.

With the launch of the 2004 HIV sentinel report the NACP says its next task is to conduct a study on the behavioural patterns of Ghanaians in relation to the pandemic.