HIV Out Of Control

Thirty-five people, mostly women, died of HIV/AIDS last year in the Offinso Municipality of the Ashanti region. The deaths were among 272 cases of HIV/AIDS recorded in the Municipality by the Municipal Directorate of Health Services.

Miss Beatrice Appah, the Municipal Director of Health Services revealed this at the 2015 Annual Review meeting of the Directorate at offinso recently. She noted that the disease is real and attributed the increase to the fact that most patients who were on treatment fail to take their drugs regularly and instead resort to herbal medication, which worsen their plight.

The Health Director stressed the need for HIV patients to report to the use of orthodox medicine for treatment, instead of trooping to prayer camps. Ms. Appah said the municipality also recorded seven maternal deaths in the year under review and explained that Offinso recorded two, with four from Afigya Kwabre District and one each from Kumasi metropolis and Atwina Nnwabiagya District.

The Municipal Director appealed to the adjourning District to support the municipality in its effort to ensure zero maternal death in the area.

She reveals also that the Directorate recorded 45,007 of malaria cases, representing 16.5% and 101 cases of Tuberculosis, representing 30.5%.