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Greater Accra tops HIV prevalence in Ghana

By CitiFMonline
Health Greater Accra tops HIV prevalence in Ghana
JUN 1, 2016 LISTEN

The Greater Accra region is now leading with the highest HIV prevalence rate in the country.

The region has now taken over the Eastern Region which topped the ranking consistently for several years with a 3.2 percent prevalence rate in 2015.

Launching the 2015 HIV survey in Accra, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACOP), Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo said this development is as a result of growing urban centres and increasing slums in Accra.

“Whereas Eastern Region is declining, the Greater Accra prevalence has  been increasing for two or three years. If you look at the trend analysis , the Greater Accra prevalence is almost a plateau compared to all the regions including Eastern Region which is on the decline. Eastern Region has the highest gradient of decline, now …There is a game change, we are transitioning to the highest prevalence in Greater Accra region,”he said.

Dr. Addo said NACOP however noticed a drop in the prevalence rate among children.

“In children we noticed a drop from 1.8 previously to 1.1. Prior to this it was 1.3 in 2013 and it jumped to 1.8 but we need to continue to intensify our efforts…”

UN approves $25m grant to fight HIV/AIDS
Meanwhile the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia says the United States has approved a global fund of 25 million dollar grant to facilitate Ghana's fight against HIV/AIDS.

“My Ministry and indeed the government of Ghana is committed to ensuring that HIV/AIDS prevention and control remains a priority issue within these broad frameworks for incremental resource allocation despite the current economic challenge.

“To this extent, Ghana has adopted the NEW UN AIDS 1990 and the WHO Treat All Policy to ensure a fast track approach to ending the epidemic through accelerated ART enrollment with particular emphasis on pediatric care.”

Mahama pledges to focus on HIV/AIDS reduction

In February, President John Dramani Mahama gave the assurance that African leaders would in the coming years focus on the total reduction of incidence of HIV and AIDS on the continent.

The President said the continent was already battling illiteracy and poverty and would therefore not allow the prevalence of the HIV and AIDS to gain centre-stage in their political progress.

He made this known when he launched the seventh African Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Accra.


By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah
 

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