Nkawkaw (E/R), Feb. 06, GNA – Ms Julia Nimo has said the Kwahu West Municipality Health Directorate recorded 435 new HIV/ AIDS cases last year which represented an 18.2 percent increase over that of 2010.

She said seventy-nine of the cases came from pregnant women.

Ms Nimo, the Municipal Director of Health, said a total of 158 out of 529 people screened at the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw and other health centers were detected to have acquired the HIV disease, representing 29.9 percent.

She said this at the end of year performance review meeting at Nkawkaw on Monday adding that malaria topped Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendance at the various health facilities in the municipality.

Ms Nimo advised pregnant women to attend regular ante-natal clinic for medical examination to avoid maternal death.

She appealed to the municipal assembly for assistance to extend electricity to some of the CHIP centers to enable them use medical equipment that had been donated to them.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Alex Somuah Obeng, commended the staff on their hard work saying the assembly would soon construct a health center at the municipal health office at Nkawkaw to help ease congestion at the Holy Family Hospital.