HIV and AIDS prevalence rate drops
The national HIV and AIDS prevalence rate dropped from 1.37 per cent in 2012 to 1.30 per cent in 2013.
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According to the 2013 National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates and the HIV Sentinel Survey (HSS) reports released yesterday, the number of persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) had reduced from 235,982 in 2012 to 224,488 in 2013.Out of the 224,488 PLHIVs, 34,557 were estimated to be children.
There were 7,812 new HIV infections, 184,168 AIDS orphans and 10,074 annual AIDS deaths.
Prevalence by region
The National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates report revealed that the Eastern Region remained on top of the prevalence rate, the rate having increased from 3.6 per cent in 2012 to 3.7 per cent in 2013.
The Ashanti, Greater Accra and Western regions also recorded high HIV prevalence rates of 3.2 per cent, 2.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively, in 2013, while the Northern, Upper West and Central regions recorded the lowest rates of 0.8 per cent, 0.8 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively.
The Volta, Upper East and Brong Ahafo regions recorded rates of 1.2 per cent, 1.7 per cent and 1.7 per cent, respectively.
The report indicated that the total need for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) was estimated at 125,396, while 11,682 mothers also needed prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMCT) services.
The HSS report also indicated that prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics reduced from 2.1 per cent in 2012 to 1.9 per cent in 2013.
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Meanwhile, syphilis prevalence among pregnant women increased from 0.6 per cent in 2012 to 0.7 per cent in 2013.
Analysis
At a ceremony to disseminate the report, the acting Programme Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme, Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, explained that Ghana’s HIV prevalence within the regions had reduced since 2000.
He said HIV prevalence among pregnant women, adults, the young population and sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients had reduced.
Dr Addo said the HSS was based on the premise that the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women was a useful indicator of the spread of the infection among the populace.
He said the report served as a reference document for the design, implementation and monitoring of programmes for national response.
He added that there was a higher HIV prevalence in urban sites compared to rural ones.
Giving 2013-2020 projections, the reports estimated a decline in new HIV infections and deaths among PLHIVs, including children, with improved access to ART and PMCT and increased demand for medication.
He said AIDS death among children and AIDS orphans were projected to also reduce over time as PMTCT services improved.
“More resources and hard work will be needed to sustain the national response to HIV and AIDS and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals,” he said.
Dr Appiah-Denkyira
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, said the country’s achievement was attributed to the hard work of all stakeholders involved, including the media, to get the message on HIV and AIDS to the populace.
However, he said there was the need for more resources and commitment on the part of all stakeholders to ensure that the trend of HIV prevalence reduced to zero as targeted.