HIV/AIDS prevalence soars in Sekyere-West district

Mampong (Ash), Nov. 10, GNA - Prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the Sekyere-West district has increased to 4.7 percent, from 2.7 percent three years ago, Ms Beatrice Kwarteng, district focal person on the disease said on Friday.

She said the increase was due largely to delinquency on the part of the youth in the area, explaining that some were indulging in early sex without any precaution while others refused to use condoms. Ms Kwarteng was briefing the third ordinary meeting of the Sekyere-West District Assembly (SWDA) on the HIV/AIDS situation in the area.

She said the Assembly and some Non-Governmental Organizations including Community Based Organizations had instituted measures to stem the increasing spate of the disease.

These measures include free distribution of condoms to target groups, formation of virgin clubs in basic schools and the awareness creation among targeted peer groups on the pandemic. Ms Kwarteng appealed to Assembly members to join in the education campaign in their electoral areas to create more awareness about the disease.

Madam Teni Dokurugu, acting District Director of Health Services, announced that cases of maternal deaths in the district went up to 10 as of September, this year, from only one last year.

This, she held, was due to delays by expectant mothers in reporting to health facilities, worsened by the deplorable nature of the roads linking some communities with towns where health facilities are located. Mr Rockson Agyekum, the Presiding Member, said the Assembly exceeded its targeted revenue and has collected 1.5 billion cedis as against a projected 972.5 million cedis for the second quarter. He said the Assembly collected excess revenue from stool lands, deposits for stores and stalls at the Mampong new market and sales of Ghana @ 50 souvenirs, all of which did not constitute regular income for the assembly.

The Presiding Member said the Assembly spent more money than budgeted because it had to pay unplanned arrears on social security fund contributions, Transport refunds and night allowances due to many training and workshop programmes it held in the course of the year. A chunk of the expenditure also went into stationery, printing, as well as utility charges, particularly, telephone and water.