An HIV/Aids patient
Loading
17th March, 2010
National HIV Prevalence Rate Goes Up
The National HIV prevalence rate rose from 1.7 in 2008 to 1.9 in 2009.
In 2009, there were estimated 267,069 persons living with HIV, which is made up of 112,457 males and154, 612 females.
There were 22,177 new infections and 20,313 AIDS deaths, Dr Addo said, adding that there were 25,666 children living with HIV, out of which 12,579 being females.
The Programme Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), Dr Nii Akwei Addo stated this when he highlighted the 2009 Sentinel report in Accra on Monday.
He said there were increases in new cases among pregnant women who were tested at selected ante-natal clinic in the country, which shot from 2.2 per cent in 2008 to 2.9 per cent in 2009.
On the national prevalence, he pointed out that the “highest prevalence rate was recorded within the age group of 40-44 years which stood at 4.0 per cent and the least is 1.9 per cent was in the 15 to 19 year group.
Prevalence among the youth 15 to 24 years, which is used as the marker for new infections, was 2.1 per cent.
Dr Addo said HIV was projected to increase from 267,069 in 2009 to 272,780 in 2010, adding the HIV prevalence in urban areas was still higher than the rural areas.
In view of the rise of the prevalence rate, Dr Addo called for more action among stakeholders to help combat the disease.
The Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor in a speech read for him by his Deputy, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nonoo aid faith based organisations were critical in curtailing HIV AIDS in the country.
He said faith based orgnisation had a wider coverage of communities and could be used on the HIV campaign.
“There is no doubt that these organisations are already doing a great deal for people affected by the epidemic. Churches are involved in prevention, care and support for orphans and families,” he stated and said there are more they could do to control the disease.
Dr Kunbour noted the result of the survey was useful to tool to observe trends and increase the commitment to accelerate implementation, provide feedback to health workers as well as local and international organisations groups involve in AIDS prevention and care programmes.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory who chaired the programme commended the NACP for the survey, saying it would help the health sector to plan and draw strategies to further curtail the disease.
In 2009, there were estimated 267,069 persons living with HIV, which is made up of 112,457 males and154, 612 females.
There were 22,177 new infections and 20,313 AIDS deaths, Dr Addo said, adding that there were 25,666 children living with HIV, out of which 12,579 being females.
The Programme Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), Dr Nii Akwei Addo stated this when he highlighted the 2009 Sentinel report in Accra on Monday.
He said there were increases in new cases among pregnant women who were tested at selected ante-natal clinic in the country, which shot from 2.2 per cent in 2008 to 2.9 per cent in 2009.
On the national prevalence, he pointed out that the “highest prevalence rate was recorded within the age group of 40-44 years which stood at 4.0 per cent and the least is 1.9 per cent was in the 15 to 19 year group.
Prevalence among the youth 15 to 24 years, which is used as the marker for new infections, was 2.1 per cent.
Dr Addo said HIV was projected to increase from 267,069 in 2009 to 272,780 in 2010, adding the HIV prevalence in urban areas was still higher than the rural areas.
In view of the rise of the prevalence rate, Dr Addo called for more action among stakeholders to help combat the disease.
The Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor in a speech read for him by his Deputy, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nonoo aid faith based organisations were critical in curtailing HIV AIDS in the country.
He said faith based orgnisation had a wider coverage of communities and could be used on the HIV campaign.
“There is no doubt that these organisations are already doing a great deal for people affected by the epidemic. Churches are involved in prevention, care and support for orphans and families,” he stated and said there are more they could do to control the disease.
Dr Kunbour noted the result of the survey was useful to tool to observe trends and increase the commitment to accelerate implementation, provide feedback to health workers as well as local and international organisations groups involve in AIDS prevention and care programmes.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory who chaired the programme commended the NACP for the survey, saying it would help the health sector to plan and draw strategies to further curtail the disease.
Popular stories from Health
