As of December 2021, there were 18,127 people living with HIV in the Central Region. 4,365 males and 12,119 women, or 66 percent, of the total, were present.
There were 1,443 children with HIV, ages 0 to 14.
In the same year, the region also experienced 863 new infections, or 5.1% of the national total, of which 726 were in adults and 138 were in children.
67% of the region's infected people are taking antiretroviral medication.
World AIDS Day
William Kwaku Yeboah, the Central Regional Technical Coordinator for the Ghana AIDS Commission, stated in an interview at the Central Regional celebration of World AIDS Day at Elmina last Thursday that the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) Municipality and Upper Denkyira East Municipality had the highest rates of infections, respectively.
He demanded coordinated measures to lessen the disease's stigma and spread.
Mr. Yeboah said that the battle was to end stigma, get 95% of affected people tested, and start them on antiretroviral medications.
In order to encourage people to lead more responsible sexual habits, he also called for increased education.
During the ceremony, locals received free counseling, testing, and instruction on safer sexual practices.
Sensitisation
Solomon Ebo Appiah, the Municipal Chief Executive for KEEA, announced that the assembly would allocate funds for the disease's education and sensitization in an effort to stop its spread, calling the statistics "extremely concerning" given that young people were the most susceptible.
He added that late funeral bylaws would be enforced in the municipality to ensure that the environment that encouraged irresponsible sexual lifestyles was diminished.
The Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, stated in a speech given on her behalf that the national HIV response had made progress, but that it was fragile because disparities in testing and treatment services for men, children, and non-pregnant women, including adolescent girls and young women, continued to exist.
She stated that HIV-related stigma continued to be a significant problem and urged the media, traditional authorities, religious, political, and corporate leaders to speak out in support of an end to stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV.
Government's involvement
Despite the economic difficulties, Mrs. Assan urged everyone to stop stigmatizing those who have the illness and take the initiative to get tested. She also assured them that the government would continue to provide antiretroviral medications to those who are HIV positive.
She said the government was fully committed to addressing disparities that were impeding efforts to eradicate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, and that it would collaborate with those who were infected or at higher risk of contracting the disease to break down structural socio-economic and cultural barriers.
In order to stop the spread of HIV, Nana Kodwo Eduakwa V, the Chief of Atonkwa, who oversaw the event, urged attendees to lead sexually responsible lifestyles.
Post a Comment