Health officials in Asokore-Mampong have sounded the alarm over an increasing HIV infection rate in the municipality, calling for urgent intervention from all community stakeholders to curb the disease’s spread.
The Municipal Director of Health Services, Reverend Solomon Anum-Doko, disclosed to the Ghana News Agency that HIV prevalence in Asokore-Mampong rose from 1.46% in 2022 to 1.61% in 2023. The latest data from the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate indicates that approximately 2,262 people in the municipality are now living with HIV/AIDS, including 749 males, 1,406 females, and 107 children.
Among these, 144 new infections were recorded in 2023, comprising 46 males, 88 females, and 10 children. Rev. Anum-Doko attributes the rise in infections primarily to unprotected sexual activities, which he notes account for 70-80% of transmission cases, with other modes being relatively minor.
Rev. Anum-Doko stressed the importance of youth involvement in awareness campaigns, promoting abstinence, monogamy, condom use, and regular HIV testing. He also emphasized the need to destigmatize the disease, highlighting that early detection and treatment can help prevent further transmission and improve health outcomes for those living with HIV.
Health officials hope that a coordinated response will curb this rise, helping to protect the community from further spread.
