HIV/AIDS pandemic on the increase in Birim South

Akyem Oda, May 04, GNA - A total of 470 HIV/AIDS cases were recorded at the Akyem Oda Government Hospital from 2004 to 2006, Dr Yaw Otchere, the District Director of Health Services, said in an address read on his behalf at the Eastern Regional Workshop of "HWE YIE" HIV/AIDS Education and Health Information Project held at Akyem Oda on Friday.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Awisa Apaaso Development Committee (AADC) a Non -Governmental Organisation (NGO), Ghana-Union, Umea, Sweden and the Akyem Oda Community Health Nurses Training School. Dr Otchere gave the breakdown of the pandemic as 152 cases recorded in 2004, 155 cases in 2005 with last year recording 163 cases and said that many of the victims were dead leaving behind orphans with their attendant socio-economic problems.

He said a sentinel HIV AIDS survey conducted on 100 pregnant women in rural communities in the district in 2005 put the infection rate at 3.4 percent while another survey conducted on 300 pregnant women last year was 3.6 percent, which he said was higher than the national average.

Dr Otchere said Counselling, Testing and Treatment (CTT) centre had been established at the hospital and pregnant women who tested HIV positive were being put on special drugs to help prevent the unborn child from being infected. Mr Sam Anyimadu Amaning, chairperson Ghana HIV Network said due to complacency on the part of stakeholders, the HIV/ AIDS disease was on the increase and called for concerted efforts from all to help fight the pandemic.

He called for care and support for HIV/AIDS victims and cautioned against stigmatisation.

Dr B.K. Benson, a Senior Lecturer, Red Cross University College of Nursing, Sweden said the aim of the "HWE YIE" project was to empower the communities through knowledge of and the ability to make informed decisions about their health to avert HIV infection. He said since the HIV infection rate was known to be highest among the female population in their productive ages as compared to men in the same age brackets, the project had taken steps to ensure gender balance at all levels of its implementation.

Nana Akua Asantewaa 11, queen of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area who chaired the function, said because some nurses were not abiding by their oath of secrecy, people felt reluctant to undergone Counselling Testing and Treatment.

She added her voice to advise to people not to stigmatise HIV/AIDS victims and urged the participants to educate communities to know that it was not only through sex that one could contract HIV. 04 May 07