HIV cases high at Winneba government hospital

The number of HIV positive cases at the Effutu Municipal Hospital in Winneba increased from sixty in 2013 to 154 in 2014, the Administrator of the hospital has said.

Mr Hayford Frempong, the Administrator of the Hospital made this known at the 2014 Annual Performance Review Meeting of the hospital at Winneba.

According to him out of 302 people Tested and counseled on HIV in 2013, 60 tested HIV positive while out of 796 tested, 154 proved positive in 2014.

He said the number of HIV patients receiving Anti Retroviral Vaccine (ARV) therapy increased from 402 in 2013 to 480 in 2014.

The Administrator said the hospital recorded one maternal Death in 2014 against zero in 2013 but did not elaborate.

According to him Management has put in place measures and strategies to ensure that no maternal Death is recorded in the facility in 2015 and the years ahead.

Mr Frempong said Institutional Infants Deaths recorded at the facility reduced from 8 in 2013 to 3 in 2014.

He said Malaria continues to top the ten Out Patient Department (OPD) cases, adding that, Morbidity cases was 19, 124, representing 16.1 per cent followed by Anaemia with 14, 893 cases.

The Administrator said Institutional Infants under 5 years has also reduced from 37 in 2011 to 25 in 2012, 15 in 2013 and 10 in 2014.

He mentioned shortage of medical and surgical consumables, late NHIS reimbursement and difficulty in getting Ambulance for referral cases as some of the challenges facing the hospital.

Dr. George Kwame Prah, Acting Municipal Director of Heath Service, urged both the Medical and Para-medical staff to continue to work as a team to facilitate health care delivery at the facility despite the challenges.

In an address read on his behalf, Nii Ephraim Effutu, Municipal Chief Executive, commended the staffs of the Hospital for their continued dedication and commitment to duty that has led to the achievements of the facility.