HIV/AIDS is on the increase in Techiman

Forty-one out of 259 AIDS patients diagnosed at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital between January and September are dead. Mr. Takyi Acheampong Techiman District HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator was addressing a forum on HIV/AIDS for operators of the Techiman branch of the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) at the weekend. The forum, organised by the Association, was under the theme, "Behaviour changes on HIV/AIDS", and was aimed at sensitising the workers on the dangers of the disease.

According to Mr. Acheampong, of the 259 cases 169 were clinical cases both for men and women, while 90 of them were the result of a blood donation. Mr Acheampong said clinical cases within the period under review were 103 for females and 66 for males, while 80 cases were recorded for males as verses 10 for females in blood donation. He also said Tuobodom, near Techiman recorded the highest number of AIDS cases reported at the hospital. Mr. Acheampong said ?even though education on the virus has been stepped up over the years cases keep on increasing, and unless something is done by 2005 the situation will be even worse.