Apam, C/R, May 11, GNA-The Apam Catholic Hospital in the Gomoa District of the Central Region has recorded 48 HIV/AIDS cases in the first quarter of this year.

From 1992 to 2004, the District, recorded 805 HIV/AIDS cases, of which 262 were males, 543 females and many others dead. Mr Eric Akobeng, Gomoa District Focal Person for HIV/AIDS, who said these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Apam on Tuesday, stated that 45 persons with full-blown HIV/AIDS cases had been admitted at the hospital.

He said the District Response Initiative (DRI), set up to tackle HIV/AIDS cases in the area was supporting the 45 People Living HIV/AIDS (PLWs).

Mr Akobeng said the District HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan has conducted a survey in the area to enable it adopt more effective measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

He commended the people for patronising the Voluntary Counselling Test (VCT) and urged would be marriage couples in particular to take advantage of the facility to know their HIV/AIDS status before contracting marriages.

Mr Akobeng suggested to the government to increase the one per cent of District Assembly Common Fund allocated for HIV/AIDS programmes since it was inadequate for supporting HIV/AIDS activities.