Obuasi (Ash), Oct 26, GNA - Despite the fact that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the Obuasi municipality area has dropped from six per cent to 2.8 per cent, the actual AIDS cases in the municipality is still increasing.

Dr Samuel Osei-Somuah, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Health Services, who disclosed this, stressed that the situation was a worry to the health directorate.

Speaking at an HIV/AIDS sensitisation programme at Gausu, a suburb of Obuasi, organised by Kaleo Area Women's Development Association (KAWDA), an Obuasi-Based NGO, Dr Osei-Somuah said a total of 191 HIV/AIDS cases had been recorded from January to June this year. He said, last year, 412 new cases were recorded as compared to the over 300 cases that had been previously recorded annually.

The Municipal Health Director expressed concern about the importance of counselling and announced that a total of 510 persons had been counselled on HIV/AIDS since January this year. Dr Osei-Somuah asked prospective couples to avail themselves of HIV/AIDS, sickle and hepatitis tests to assist them to know their health status before marriage.

He also encouraged the youth, especially to go for voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to help them know their HIV/AIDS status. Mr. Albert Annadie, the director of KAWDA, said the NGO was poised to work for the advancement of women and children in the society. He said since the establishment of the organisation in 2002, they had organised a number of programmes on reproductive health and also provided employable skills to enhance poverty reduction amongst women. Mr. Annadie added that they intended to share and actively work with the vulnerable and the marginalised in society on issues of sustainable development to improve access to education, health and economic ventures.

Mr Edward A. Akuoko, assemblyman-elect for Gausu North, who presided, said the fight against HIV/AIDS was everybody's responsibility.

He appealed to the NGO to extend their HIV/AIDS education programme to other communities in the Obuasi Municipality.