Agona Duakwa, C/R, Oct 1, GNA - Mrs Christiana Intsiful, Senior Nursing Officer of the Agona Swedru government hospital, on Wednesday said, out of a total of 113 people who came for voluntary Counselling Test (VCT) at the hospital, 18 proved HIV positive. Mrs Intsiful, made this known at a health forum organized by the Young and Lonely Foundation, a Swedru based non governmental organization (NGO) at Agona Duakwa in the Agona East District. The forum also coincided with the launching of the Citizens Action and Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project in the newly created district and sponsored by Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), an Accra based NGO.

Mrs Intsiful said it was important that the public, especially girls, are sensitised to improve maternal health and also combat the spread of HIV/ AIDS in the Agona East area. She said a survey conducted by the Regional Health Directorate in Cape Coast has revealed that the Agona West Municipal and Agona East District in the Central Region, recorded high teenage pregnancy cases,. She said more school girls aged between 12 and 19 in the area got pregnant in the two administrative areas and cautioned the public, especially the youth to stop refrain from sex till marriage or use condoms.

"Because the pregnancies involved children under age, they encounter complications during the delivery", she added. Mrs Intsiful said a total of 67 cases of Tuberculoses (TB) were recorded in 2006 as against 64 in 2007, adding that 60 sufferers had been cured as at August this year. The Nursing Officer warned herbalists and other spiritual centres to refer the TB patients to the hospital to avert further complications. She urged Parent Teacher Associations (PTA), Chiefs, Assembly members and the two Assemblies to come out with comprehensive bye-laws to stem the menace among school girls. Madam veronica Quaye, Executive Director of CENCOSAD and a member of ARHR said her organization was prepared to organize regular health forums at Brahabekum, Domoki, Duaboni, Namawura and Otabilkrom to reduce malaria and other communicable diseases, as well as the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.

Mr Gilbert Germain, Director of the Young and Lonely Foundation said they hope to educate parents and students, especially girls to be circumspect about their sexual behaviour to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. He said malaria is endemic in the area and appealed to the parents to use treated mosquito nets to help combat the disease. He appealed to the District and Municipal Assemblies to support the organization to create more awareness on health related issues to promote and improve health delivery. 1 Oct. 08