The Ghana AIDS Commission has raised concerns over the increasing rate of new infections of HIV/AIDS in the Eastern region.
According to the Commission, 2,128 new HIV infections have been recorded in the Eastern region.
It attributed the new infections to reckless and risky sexual behaviours including unprotected sexual intercourse involving young men and women in the region.
The Acting Eastern Regional Technical Coordinator of the Technical Unit of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ebenezer Appiah Agyekum Abrokwah expressed worry over the number.
“We are seeing an increase in prevalence in even Eastern region. We are getting more people tested and we are getting more HIV cases. Our estimated new infections are about 2000. We know that about 80% of HIV transmission is through unprotected sex with an infected person so basically, the idea or arrows point to unprotected sex.
“Young people are engaging in risky sexual behaviour and also we are seeing that there is a lot more exposure of young people to a lot of sexually suggestive stuff like the contents we see on TV, contents we are watching on the internet, lifestyle that is being advocated out there by the older population so we see a lot of young women and young men engaging in risky sexual behaviour”
“Another thing is that people are not going for treatment after they test positive. so in places where there is high rural Communities where access to health centres is a bit difficult you realize that people are not able to easily go to the hospital to access treatment, now we are told that health has been decentralized so even health centres and CHPS are always giving antiretroviral so when people are not accessing it then they are still in denial about their status or maybe their religious beliefs do not allow them to access the drug”
Currently, there are 47,8166 people living with the virus in the region.
However, only 30,538 are accessing the antiretroviral drug.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Upper Manya Krobo District HIV/AIDS Advocacy Committee at Asesewa.
The nine-member committee is chaired by the District Chief Executive, Joe Sam with Shirley Tiah, the District HIV Focal Person as the secretary. Other members of the committee are Emmanuel Nuetey Siakwa, Abraham Martey, Abass Jubilila, and Lansah Asumah. The rest are Theophilus Agbodjadh, Rev. Devine Nartey and Mrs. Grace Adza – Awude
The committee is aimed at providing advocacy for HIV and AIDS prevention and control and fostering effective coordination among stakeholders towards the reduction of the menace in the district.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
