A total of 175 HIV/AIDS cases were recorded in five out of the six hospitals of the Upper West Region between January and June, this year, as against about 200 cases recorded within the last two years.

The new statistics indicate that Wa Township has six per cent prevalence rate, the second highest in the country after Koforidua, which has a prevalence rate of 6.6 per cent. The Regional Senior Medical Officer of Public Health, Dr Daniel Yayemain said this at Wa at a day's HIV/AIDS workshop organised for the staff of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).

He said with the current trend of HIV/AIDS figures in the region, it means six out of every 100 people in the Upper West Region are HIV/AIDS positive. Dr Yayemain said the number of cases could be higher than the current one considering the fact that many people do not report their ailments to health facilities in the region. He therefore advised participants to be vigilant and careful, particularly when they are at the barriers, since there are always in and outflows of people on daily basis.

The Medical Officer said the use of condom as a preventive measure is the best, particularly for people who can not abstain and be faithful to their partners. He warned sexual partners against the use of certain lubricants such as Vaseline as the petroleum jelly could destroy the condoms and render the partners susceptible to the disease.