E/R recorded 2000 cases of HIV/AIDS last year

Dr. Appiah Denkyira, Eastern Regional Director of Health Services has said that last year alone the region recorded more than 2000 cases of HIV/AIDS, and called for pragmatic measures to check the accelerated increase of the disease in the region.

He said the fast rate of increase of the disease suggested that the effort of the government and Non-Governmental Organisations in mitigating its spread was not enough, adding that there was the need to make it more effective and result oriented.

Dr. Denkyira made this known when he launched the Akwapim South District branch of Ghana Health Service at Nsawam on Friday, to coincide with the inauguration of the District Health Committee.

He called on the personnel of the service not to see the establishment of the Ghana Health Service as breaking from the bureaucratic grip of the Ministry of Health alone but also empowering the staff to be committed to their duties and to ensure the provision of quality health delivery to the people.

Dr. Denkyira said the death rate among children and pregnant women was on the ascendancy and preventable diseases continued to result in death due to the high rate of poverty in the region.

Dr. Mawuli Gyakobo, Akwapim South District Director of Health Services in his welcoming address noted that the maternal mortality rate had increased, couple with Buruli Ulcer and sporadic cases of guinea worm infection attributing the prevalence to the high poverty rate in the district.

He expressed the confidence that after the inauguration of the District Health Committee the district would experience a lot of improvement in the reduction of HIV/AIDS, Buruli Ulcer and the maternal mortality rate.

Meanwhile the District Health Committee has Mr. George Ahadzie as Chairman, Dr. Mawuli Gyakobo as member, Dr. Albert Benneh, Medical Superintendent at the District Hospital, member, Reverend John E. Mensah, member and Alhaji Mutalabi Abdul, also member.

The rest were; Mr. Kingsley Yeboah of the District Assembly, Mrs Dina Ayirebi, Nana Akua Okyerwa, Presiding Member of the Assembly and Queen mother of Nsakyi, and Nana Boamah Ntim all members.