By Alex Ababio
The Ashanti Region has been identified as the most populated among all the 16 regions in terms of people living with HIV/. Director General (DG) of Ghana Aids Commission GAC, Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene has disclosed.
According to him 73,245 people are living with HIV in Ashanti Region.
The records on the regional breakdowns of HIV population are as follows Ashanti -73,245, Greater Accra – 70,855, Eastern – 47,866, Western – 25,620, Central – 24,881, Volta -20,949, Bono – 19,173, Bono East – 14,273, Western North – 10,619, Ahafo -8,405, Upper East – 7,953, Northern – 6,941, Oti – 5,877, Upper West – 5,725, Savannah – 3,135 and North East – 2,122
Mr Kyetemeh Atuahene who disclosed this to journalists in Kumasi indicated that infections among young persons continued to remained a challenge to the fight against the HIV-AIDS scourge in the Ashanti region.
He noted that some residents who were tested positive did not a avail themselves for treatment because of a number of reasons which include fear of stigmatisation.
Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene, in this regard admonished the public to refrain from indulging in stigmatising and discriminating against People Living with HIV/AIDS.
He , however, stressed the need for intensive education and continuous awareness among the populace , condom promotion and distribution in addition to provider-initiated testing at the OPD, as important element as far as activities they had to embark on in order to reduce the prevalence rate.
Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene tasked citizens to be aware of the 90-90-90 target which required that by 2021, 90 percent of the population should test and know their status, 90 percent of those tested should be put on treatment and 90 percent of those on treatment should have viral suppression.
Meanwhile, Speaking at the inauguration of
Metropolitan, Municipal and District HIV/AIDS Response committees at Kwadaso, in Kumasi,
Mr Ebenezer Teitey Sackey, Ashanti region HIV/AIDS Committee member
Noted that the pandemic would continue to pose a threat to public health if stakeholders continue to demonstrate lack of commitment in deciminating public education and sensitization.
The Committee members comprised of representatives from the Health services , Education
Directorates, Christian Council, and, Civil society organizations, and Muslim groups.
The committee was tasked to supervise HIV/AIDS activities, foster connections among members, evaluate programmes, organise alert programmes
monitor , and promote research and dissemination of information on the pandemic.
Among other things they would report on the progress of anti–retroviral therapy supply.
Mr Sackey further stated that HIV/AIDS response had undergone a paradigm shift since 1986, stressing that measures had been procured to protect persons living with the HIV/AIDS.
He stated that 80 per cent of infections were from unprotected sex while 15 percent was from mother-to-child transmission.
He encouraged the committee members to work harder and continue to engage in sensitization drive on the pandemic in order to achieve their goals.
Madam Olivia Graham, Technical Coordinator of Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), in the Ashanti region said the pandemic was first found in the country in 1986.
She , however, called for a multi-sectoral approach in addition to private sector involvement to help wrestle against the pandemic in a more coordinated manner to achieve success .