HIV/AIDS cases increase in Techiman

Techiman (B/A), Aug. 23, GNA - Fourteen out of 230 people screened at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital died of HIV/AIDS between January to June this year.

Mr. Peter Takyi-Acheampong, HIV/AIDS Coordinator of the hospital, said this at a 3-day workshop for 40 queenmothers, religious leaders and the media on HIV/AIDS counselling at Techiman.

The workshop themed: Classic FM Radio Station organized "The Role of Queenmothers In Combating HIV/AIDS, The Community Home Base Approach" in conjunction with the Ghana AIDS Commission. Mr. Takyi-Acheampong said within the period, 46 males and 57 females were infected with the disease.

He said out of 1,205 people screened, 106 were HIV positive and gave the breakdown as out of 1,128 males who reported at the hospital 92 were having HIV/AIDS, while 14 out of 77 females screened were having the disease.

He said 31 out of 2,060 pregnant women who were screened were found to be HIV positive.

Mr. Takyi-Acheampong deplored the high rate of cases of children between the ages of zero to four(0-4) years having HIV in the municipality and said the pandemic in Techiman had been on the increase.

Mr. Stephen Agyemang Basu, Techiman Municipal Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, said the Municipal AIDS Committee had made strives in HIV/AIDS activities in the Municipality in forging partnership with NGOs, and Community Based Organisations but added that lack of funds had posed a challenge to the AIDS committee.