Viral report of 400 suspected HIV cases in Ho Technical University false – Volta Regional Health Directorate

The Volta Regional Health Directorate has debunked a viral report alleging over 400 students at the Ho Technical University have tested positive for HIV.

In a statement, the Directorate described the report by one “unverified” ajnewonline.com, titled, “Hookup Trend Leads to HIV Outbreak at Ho Technical University: Over 400 students suspected positive” as "false and unfounded.”

A review of HIV testing data in all health facilities in Ho Municipality and the Volta Region, according to the statement, showed "no increase in recorded HIV cases within any facility or the Region as a whole.”

The Regional Health Directorate emphasized, "there has not been a surge of HIV cases in the Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region."

The Directorate urged the public to ignore the report, saying several strategies have been implemented to reduce new HIV infections and eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

“The Volta Regional Health Directorate and its partners have over the period successfully implemented several strategies to fight HIV/AIDS.

“These strategies seek to reduce new infections by 85% and eliminate mother-to-child transmission,” it noted.

The Directorate assured the public that privacy and confidentiality are upheld in HIV services available in all health facilities in the region.

The statement concluded by stressing that HIV is still real and called for sexual abstinence, faithfulness and consistent condom use.

Read a full copy of the release as copied to ModernGhana News below;

FALSE REPORTAGE ON THE HIV INCIDENCE IN THE HO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

The attention of the Volta Regional Health Directorate has been drawn to an online publication by an unverified and unknown news portal 'ajnewonline.com' with the headline “Hookup Trend Leads to HIV Outbreak at Ho Technical University: Over 400 students suspected positive”.

The publication has subsequently been quoted by various social media actors without any form of due diligence.

The Regional Health Directorate by this release is informing the public to disregard the said publication since it is false and unfounded.

A review of the HIV testing data in all the health facilities in the Ho Municipality and the rest of the Volta Region does not suggest an increase in recorded HIV cases within any facility or the Region as a whole.

For the avoidance of doubt, the region states emphatically that there has not been a surge of HIV cases in the Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region.

The Volta Regional Health Directorate and its partners have over the period successfully implemented several strategies to fight HIV/AIDS.

These strategies seek to reduce new infections by 85% and eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

The Region however encourages its inhabitants to avoid stigmatization and fully lend themselves to the disease awareness campaigns and tailor-made services that meet their specific needs so as to consolidate the gains made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.

HIV services are available in all private and public health facilities in the Volta Region.

The public is assured that their right to privacy and confidentiality will always be upheld as is the case in all disease conditions.

In conclusion, let us take note that HIV is still real, and all must endeavor to live positively through sexual abstinence or by both uninfected partners being faithful to each other, and by the consistent use of condoms