Forty three out of 51 patients whose blood samples were screened between January to September this year at the Kibi Government Hospital were found to be HIV positive.

The figures show that 84.3 per cent of the blood samples screened were HIV positive. This was disclosed by Ms Bridget Desewu, East Akim District Director of Health Services (DDHS) in an address to about 150 school children selected from schools at Kyebi after parading through the principal streets of Kyebi amidst brass band music as part of activities marking the World AIDS Day in the district at Kyebi on Sunday.

She said out of 45 people whose blood samples were also tested at the HIV Counseling Unit of the hospital between the same period, 38 were HIV positive. Ms Desewu said out of those found to be HIV positive, 30 were females while eight were males.

She told the students that, the figures showed that there were many carriers of the HIV virus in the locality and advised them to abstain from sex. Ms Desewu advised them to avoid going to quack doctors for treatment.

Mr. Emmanuel Victor Asihene, East Akim District Chief Executive observed that if the development of the country could be sustained, then more attention needed to be diverted towards the protection of the youth against the infection of the HIV/AIDS virus.