AIDS - Figures For Ghana

3.6% of the population is living with the AIDS virus. According to Prof. F.T. Sai of the National AIDS Commission eight out of 10 people acquire AIDS through sex.

The disease has increased so rapidly throughout the world since it was first diagnosed in 1981. It is the most devastating disease the world has ever experienced. In 2001, five million people were known to have been infected globally with 15,000 infections a day.

The National Cumulative figure for 2001 by the National AIDS Commission puts the figure at 52, 961 at a prevalence rate of 3.6%.

In 1999 a 200 daily infection was reported and that 500,000 people had the HIV - the virus that causes AIDS. It is estimated that 20,000 of the estimated 500,000 HIV/AIDS patients dwell in and around the Krobo communities in the Eastern Region. About 50,000 more are said to have AIDS but these have not reported it. It is also estimated that a million Ghanaians would be infected by 2005.

Last year, Ashanti Region alone recorded 16,069(30.4%) of the national figure. About 193 (1.4%) out of 13, 571 blood donors in the region tested positive in the same year.

Then from January to June, this year Ashanti further registered 1,737 reported cases of AIDS (made up of 1,037 females and 699 males). Only last month, good 14 people including nine females out of 158 people screened by the Aninwah Medical Centre at Emena, near Kumasi, during a three day free health screening tested positive.

The Adansi West District with Obuasi as its capital has the highest number of reported cases. At the Obuasi Mines of AGC, 232 employees were infected between January 1998 and October 30, this year. Seventy (70) of these are already dead, while 133 of their dependents have also contracted the disease resulting in the death of 4l.

A 12-member HIV/AIDS management committee has already been formed by AGC to create awareness among its 600 strong workforce.

The prevalence rates in the regions is nothing to write home about. Ashanti has 2.7 %; Eastern Region -5.3 %; while Volta has 4.6% with 3.1%.

Western Region 3.1%; Central 2.7 ; Brong Ahafo 1.7%; Upper West 1.5; Northern Region 1.4% while Upper East has 1.3%.

Agbamanya in the Eastern Region has a prevalence rate of 6.6%, with Wa and Koforidua recording 6.6% and 6.4% respectively, while Accra and Tema have 4.8 and 4.0%.

In Kumasi 86% of all commercial sex workers (prostitutes) are HIV positive. About 76% of prostitutes in the harbour city of Tema are carriers of the AIDS virus.

In Botswana, 44% of urban pregnant women are HIV positive, while in Zimbabwe 2,500 deaths are reported each week from AIDS infection.

The number of women living with HIV/AIDS has risen to 50% of the global total this year, according to Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director.