Sekondi, Dec. 10, GNA -The Western Region has chalked significant strides in ending and preventing mother to child transmission of HIV and AIDs.
The approach of compulsory testing for all pregnant women and putting them on drugs after cases are detected have enabled the Region to have babies free of HIV and AIDs.
Dr Samuel Aidoo, the Western Regional HIV and AIDs Coordinator told the Ghana News Agency that despite the Region being among the top five Regions of new infections, newborns were part.
The Western Region, currently, has over 2,500 people living with the virus and 2,000 AIDs cases.
He said the virus continue to grow in the Region due to economic activities, the Region’s association with other border countries and the influx of people in general.
The prevalence rate stood at 1.7 per cent, an increase in the National figure of 1.6 per cent.
The Region has created more Antiretroviral centres and increased awareness of self-testing.
Dr Aidoo said, “now we have close to 80 accessible centres offering services to all our clients.”
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, said it had become imperative that more awareness was created, especially on discrimination and stigma to help in eliminating it.
Mr Darko-Mensah said attention must be paid to social wrongs that prevented an end to inequalities and the goal of ending AIDs by 2030.
Other interventions earmarked to prevent new HIV infections and enhance treatment include HIV self-testing, back to care, the introduction of the PrEP medication and the creation of healthy living platforms to Information.
GNA