The Clinical Psychiatric officer of the Holy Family Hospital, Dr Eric Sarpong, has bemoaned the spike in new HIV infections in Berekum.
The medical practitioner says he was worried because the number of infected persons keeps increasing and a threat to the fight against the virus.
The doctor disclosed to Rainbow Radio’s Mohammed Abdul Razak that over 4,000 persons are currently infected and on treatment but he was worried they could be several infected persons who do not know their status and could be spreading the virus.
He stressed on the need for authorities to intensify campaign and advocacy so the positive progress made to reach the goal of an HIV-free generation under the “Stay Safe, Let’s End AIDS by 2030,” is achieved.
He advised against unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners and other dangerous s4ex practices that could spread the virus to others.
He further asked persons living with the virus not to be ashamed or hide but seek treatment.
Ghana missed out on the UNAIDs 90, 90, 90 targets, which envisaged that by end of 2020, 90 per cent of all PLHIVs globally would have known their status, 90 per cent of persons diagnosed with HIV placed on antiretroviral drugs and 90 per cent attaining viral suppression.\
However, the country is working on a new target to end the epidemic by 2030.
Statistics from the 2018 National Estimates and Projections for HIV/AIDs pegs the national prevalence rate at 1.69 per cent, an estimated population of 334, 714, with 19, 931 estimated new cases of infection, and 14,181 estimated aids-related deaths.
In 2019, the Commission registered 342,307 people living with HIV of which 20,068 were new infections out of which 2, 104 were adolescents and 13,616 were AIDS-related deaths.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
