The total number of reported AIDS cases in Ashanti shot up by 14 barely hours to the launch of the World's AIDS Day instituted by the UN to create awareness by the menace.

Micro-care Ghana, an NGO in collaboration with the Aninwah Medical Centre at Emena offered a three-day free health screening over three days (Nov. 28-30).

At the end of the exercise, 14 persons including nine females tested HIV positive out of the total number of 158 screened.

The occasion was the observation of the hospital's second screening annual day during which free health screening including BP tests, HIV Counselling and general health education are offered free of charge to the people.

The screened persons were drawn from the catchment area of the hospital covering about 53 communities.

Mrs. Afranie Appiagyei, administrative officer said the exercise was the Centre's contribution to efforts by the government at combating the spread of AIDS. Prof. (Mrs.) Ernestina Agnes Addy, who presided over the function reminded the gathering that knowledge about the safety of sexual behaviour and activity is essential since transmission of HIV is primarily through sex.

She said AIDS is one additional burden on top of many others, and urged everyone to take steps to prevent its spread.

"AIDS should be every one's concern," Prof. Addy said and warned that fear and panic are not the answer to preventing the disease.

According to the don "effective responses to the HIV epidemic should come from unified national planning, and suggested that people with HIV epidemic should be considered as part of the community and the solution