Four per cent of blood donated to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital last year was HIV positive. Dr George Bonsu, Techiman District Director of Health Services, announced this at the inauguration of a five-member technical committee of the Techiman District Response Initiative (DRI) on HIV/AIDS.

The committee, which would draw an action plan and set up objectives covering HIV/AIDS activities in the district, has Dr Bonsu as chairman. Other members are Mr Takyui Acheampong, AIDS Co-ordinator of the Techiman Holy Family Hospital, Mr Wilfred M. N. Soborne, School Health Co-Ordinator, Mr K. Adu Sarkodie, National Youth Council and Mr Thomas Adutwum Frimpong of the Centre for Human Development.

Dr Bonsu said between 1992-2002, a total of 1,780 HIV cases had been recorded in the district. He said out of 361 HIV/AIDS cases reported last year, 45 deaths had been recorded so far. The District Director charged members of the committee to be committed to the cause of eradicating AIDS from the district.

Mr Isaac Osei-Antwi, Techiman District Chief Executive (DCE), said the disease posed a great danger to humanity and urged the Committee members to sacrifice towards achieving the district's initiatives on HIV/AIDS.

He noted that though the disease could not be eradicated, the rate of infection could be reduced through the sensitisation of the people on the dangers it posed to humanity.

Mr David Yaro, District Co-ordinating Director, charged the committee to start picking the priority areas for the action plan and also to involve religious bodies for the success of the programme.