Nineteen (19) pregnant women in the Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region have new HIV infections, Mrs Eva Aryee, the District Director of Health has said.

They were among the 1,535 pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics from January to June, this year.

Mrs Aryee made this known at the opening session of the mid-year review meeting of the directorate at Odumase.

She said 23 out of 340 people who were voluntarily tested proved positive within the same period.

She observed that the district prevalence rate stands at 2.24 percent, saying the pace at which the disease is spreading in the area requires concerted efforts from stakeholders to bring it under control.

Mrs Aryee indicated that malaria continued to top Out-Patient Department (OPD) cases in the district and advised especially pregnant and nursing mothers to sleep under the insecticides treated nets.

She explained that out of the 68,592 OPD attendants recorded within the period, 59,668 of them were suspected cases of malaria.

Mrs Aryee lauded the effective collaboration and tremendous support from MAP Ghana and Mission of Hope Society, NGOs, which had enhanced quality healthcare delivery in the district.

She urged the health workers to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and endeavour to submit regular reports of their activities for proper planning and execution of programmes and activities.