Health News of Friday, 1 December 2017

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Government urged to sustain anti-HIV/AIDS campaign

A 2016 HIV surveillance survey shows that the Volta and B/A Regions had the highest prevalence ratesA 2016 HIV surveillance survey shows that the Volta and B/A Regions had the highest prevalence rates

The government has been asked to do more to sustain the anti-HIV/AIDS campaign, to slow down the spread of infection of the disease.

Mrs. Cecelia Senoo, Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), an NGO, said everything should be done to ensure that the progress made in the fight against the disease was not reversed.

She cautioned against concentrating on only areas where the disease’s prevalence rate was high and said, any neglect of places known to have low prevalence rate could unravel the gains made.

This was contained in a press statement she issued and signed to mark the World AIDS Day.

“The right to health, know your HIV status, seek early treatment”, was the national theme chosen for this year’s celebration.

The 2016 HIV surveillance survey showed that the Volta and Brong-Ahafo Regions had the highest prevalence rate - 2.7 per cent.

The statement made reference to the 2015 report, which put Greater Accra at the top of the infection rate and said the shift in positions should make everybody to sit up.

“Our constant neglect of what seems to be low prevalence areas always reaps negative outcomes. Such regions end up becoming high prevalent areas, and the cycle continues”, it added.

It entreated all Ghanaians everywhere, irrespective of their social standing, to go for voluntary testing to know their HIV status.