HIV and AIDS population surge in Bono Region – Ghana AIDS Commission

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim Bambila, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) says 19,979 persons are living with HIV and AIDS in the Bono Region. 

He said the region had 875 HIV new infections, and called for concerted approaches to tackle the causes and spread of the disease. 

Mr Bambila made the call when speaking at the inauguration of the Bono Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (RECCOM) in Sunyani. 

The nine-member committee, chaired by Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, is tasked to coordinate the activities and programmes of the GAC to manage and stem the spread of the disease. 

He mentioned low condom use, multiple sex partners, stigmatisation and discrimination, inadequate sexual health education, migration and mobility, transactional sex, and limited access to HIV-related services as some of the identifiable factors fueling the spread of HIV and AIDs in the region. 

Mr Bambila said the 2024 Regional HIV Estimates puts the region’s HIV prevalence rate at 2.22 percent among people between ages 15 years and 49 years, higher than the national prevalence rate. 

In a breakdown, he said the Dormaa East District had the highest regional HIV prevalence rate of 5.36 percent with 2,715 persons living with HIV and AIDS and Berekum Municipality having 3.33 percent with 2,701 persons living with the virus. 

The Wenchi Municipality had 2,153 persons living with the disease with 2.46 percent prevalence rate, and Sunyani Municipality having 3,335 persons with HIV and AIDS with the prevalence rate of 2.22 percent. 

In the Jaman South Municipality, 1,644 persons were living with HIV and AIDS with a prevalence rate of 2.09 percent and Dormaa Central Municipality having I,693 HIV and AIDS population with the prevalence rate of 2.03 percent. 

The Banda District also had 406 HIV and AIDS population with 2.03 percent, and 1,631 persons with HIV and AIDS in Tain District recording 1.97 percent prevalence rate while the Dormaa West District had 584 HIV and AIDS population with 1.68 percent rate. 

The Berekum West District also had 548 persons with HIV and AIDS with a prevalence rate of 1.51 percent, Sunyani West Municipality had 1,482 HIV and AIDS population with 1.43 percent prevalence rate as well as Jaman North District having 1,087 HIV and AIDS population with 1.29 percent prevalence rate. 

Source: GNA