A total of 622 new HIV cases were recorded in health facilities in the Ketu South Municipality last year.

The figure which included 64 children, has increased the number of people living with HIV and receiving treatment in the area to 1,073, the highest in the Volta Region.

Mr. Joseph Degley, Municipal Director of Health Services, announced this during the Directorate’s 2013 Annual Performance Review Conference on Tuesday at Denu.

The two-day conference was on the theme: “The Role of Community Leadership in Curbing Maternal Death and Child Health Improvement.”

Mr. Degley said 401 Tuberculosis (TB) cases were recorded in the year, with one case of Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDRTB) – a TB strain that has developed resistance against the conventional TB treatment, also detected.

He said five maternal deaths compared to four in 2012, occurred last year, with eight neonatal and three infant mortality cases occurring, compared to six and zero rates respectively the previous year.

Mr. Degley said 56,249 malaria cases with 21 deaths being 0.2% Fatality Rate compared to 23,084 cases with 11 deaths being 0.06% in 2012, occurred in the Volta Region.

He said improving child health, eliminating maternal mortality under the MDGs Four to Six, and HIV, TB, Malaria control and management, high quality curative care, CHPS implementation and Disease Surveillance, formed part of their priorities in the year.

According to him, the Directorate was faced with staff shortfall, despite the presence of three doctors currently at post.

Mr. Degle reminded staff that quality-driven client-focused and result oriented services remained the core values of their services.

Mr. Pascal Lamptey, Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), congratulating the directorate for the conference, said it was a statutory requirement for state institutions and departments to render accounts of stewardship to the people.

Mr. Lamptey bemoaned the high HIV and TB cases in the area, making the figures the regional highest for four consecutive years.

He said although the situation could be attributed to the fact that the area was a border area, something drastic needed to be done, and urged authorities to increase sensitization to help reverse the trend.

Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey, Volta Regional Director of Health Services, appealed to community leaders to collaborate with Community Health Officers and CHPS compound officials, to help reduce infant and maternal mortality.

GNA