![]() |
Human Immune Virus (HIV) cases on the rise - NACP. |
At the end of the third quarter of 2022, which runs from January
to September, 33,870 people in Ghana had tested positive for HIV, with
24,017 of them being female and 9,853 of them being male.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager, National AIDS/STI
Control Programme (NACP), reported that a total of 9,160 adult males and 693
male children, as well as 23,294 adult females and 723 female children, tested
positive.
In total, 1,441,986 people were tested during the time period, and
33,870 of them, or 2.3 percent, tested positive, he said. 17,846 non-pregnant
women and 5,448 pregnant women tested positive, according to the data.
Dr. Ayisi Addo made this statement at the Ghana News Agency, Tema
Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue Platform during the pre-launch of a
practical national campaign focusing on HIV Self-Test (HIVST) kits.
The HIV Self-Test Kits pack includes a test device, a
preservative, a developer vial, and a test stand, as well as an instruction
manual for use that is written in both English and Twi. The instruction manual
also includes just eleven easy-to-follow steps and clear pictures to help the
individual administer themselves without the assistance of anyone else.
Dr. Ayisi Addo gave the Ghana News Agency, Tema Regional Team a
demonstration of how to use the HIVST kits and invited them to lead the
advocacy for its use before the national launch and campaign in the coming year
of 2023.
At the end of the third quarter, Greater Accra had 6,863
HIV-positive cases, followed by the Ashanti with 6,735, the Eastern had 4,968,
the Central had 2,572, Bono hit had 2,182, Western had 1,960, Volta had 1,830,
Bono East had 1,697, and the Western North had 1,260.
The remaining cases were recorded in Ahafo (905), Northern (733),
Oti (621), Upper East (620), Upper West (507) and Savannah (273), with North
East having the fewest (144) cases.
According to data made available to the Ghana News Agency Tema
Regional Office, a total of 739,920 people were tested in 2016; of those,
38,582 (or 5.2%) tested positive. In 2017, 896,042 people were tested, and of
those, 43,200 (or 5.0%) tested positive. In 2018, a total of 1,226,299 people
were tested, and of those, 53,779 (or 4.0%) tested positive.
A total of 1,397,379 people were tested in 2019, and of those,
53,996 (3.9%) tested positive. In 2020, 1,322,446 people were tested, and of
those, 39,318 (3.0%) tested positive. In 2021, a total of 1,403, 015 people
were tested, and of those, 38,906 (2.8%) tested positive.
Even though Dr. Ayisi Addo acknowledged that the numbers were
declining, he expressed concern that the rate was moving too slowly and
demanded increased advocacy to hasten the decline.
He called for attitudinal change as HIV is still prevalent,
“people need to change their way of life for us to reduce the number
drastically…am afraid the figures would hit over 40,000 by the time we collate
the figures for the fourth quarter of 2022”.
Also Read: HIV/AIDS: Ghanaian Youth advised to value condom use.
Also Read: Ghana Businesses, Jobs and Resource Links.
Also Read: Covid-19: Country specific measures on situation to be released.
Source: HR Forum News
0 Comments