By Muyid Deen Suleman, GNA
Asokore-Mampong (Ash), July 31, GNA – Statistics released by the Ghana Health Services (GHS) between 2024 and 2025 have shown that, the Asokore-Mamapong Municipality recorded a decline in HIV prevalence rate, a development health authorities say could be linked to intensified screening and public education, though challenges such as stigma still remain.
The data indicates that the prevalence rate of HIV stood at 0.75 per cent in 2025 as against 1.05 per cent recorded in 2024.
This means that fewer people in the Municipality are being recorded as living with HIV in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Ms Rebecca Abora, the HIV focal person in Asokore-Mamapong, who made this known to the Ghana News Agency said in 2024, the total number of affected persons was 1,517, comprising 449 males, 989 females and 79 children between the ages of 0 -14 years.
She said the figures help the health system plan services such as testing campaigns, counselling, and antiretroviral drug support for those identified.
She noted that, in 2025, the total records of HIV affected persons stood at 1, 161.
This figure, she stated, consisted of 372 males, 726 females and 63 children between the ages of 0 -14 years.
The reduction in both adults and children, Ms Rebecca said, suggested progress, but also called for continued follow-up and community engagement to ensure that people who might be living with the virus were identified early.
Ms Rebecca stated that the decline could be attributed to the fact that most affected persons might have travelled, relocated, or registered with a new facility, thereby affecting the numbers captured within the Municipality in that particular year.
She also emphasised that some individuals remained reluctant to test for HIV, either due to fear of results or the belief that infection was linked to shame.
In stressing the importance of early detection, she urged people to test for HIV since it was manageable at the early stages.
She cautioned that, if people waited until the advanced stage, HIV becomes more difficult to manage, and complications were likely to arise, increasing the burden on both patients and the health system.
Ms Abora advised residents to avoid discrimination and stigmatisation of persons living with HIV, adding that support from family and the community encouraged adherence to treatment and improved overall wellbeing.
She said the directorate was continuing its community outreach programmes adding that “we have held several screenings in JHS and SHS within Municipality including Aboabo, Parkoso, Buoban among others.”
She explained that such school-based programmes were designed to educate young people on prevention, safe behaviours, and the need-to-know one’s status.
She said continuous community outreach, including sensitisation at health facilities and public gatherings, would help reduce myths and misconceptions, and also encourage more people to voluntarily seek testing.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/ Christabel Addo