Unprotected sex has been identified as a major contributory factor to the high rate of HIV/AIDS in the Brong Ahafo region.

Statistics from the Ghana Aids Commission indicates that, the Prevalence of the epidemic in the entire region is 2.0% as against the National Prevalence of 1.37% according to the 2012 report.

Mr. Welbeck Amoani Twum, the Brong Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator gave the statistics at a day’s strategic forum on HIV/AIDS at Kukuom in the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo region.

The forum was organized by UNFP in collaboration with the Ghana Aids Commission and District Directorate of Social Welfare.

It was well attended by Civil Society Organisations, Traditional Leaders, Assembly Members, Religious Leaders, the Media and the various Departmental Heads of the Asunafo South District Assembly.

Mr. Amoani Twum noted that, in 2012 Asunafo North and South Districts were rated as the Second Largest sentinel site of 2.1% out of four sentinel sites in the region and therefore called for effective collaboration between the various stakeholders in addressing the deadly epidemic in the Districts.

He mentioned Mining activities, elaborating celebration of funerals and festivities, emergence of big commercial centers and border towns, long distance drivers from nearby countries, influx of refugees from neighbouring countries and poverty as some factors driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region.

For his part, the District Focal Person for HIV/AIDS who also doubles as the District Officer of Social Welfare Mr. Frank Adjei said, improvement in scientific knowledge and national efforts at addressing the epidemic reveals that People Living With HIV positive are not hindrance to the society.“We do not have to be afraid of persons living with HIV because living, eating and interacting with them will not get us affected with the virus,” he stressed.

He also appealed to the participants to campaign against HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination and advised them to educate the populace especially those at the grass-root level on the risk factor for the HIV infection.

The District Chief Executive for the area Hon. Abrahams Atta Bosompem also pointed out that, government alone cannot achieve the goal of national response to HIV/AIDS and therefore called on all stakeholders to continue playing the roles as social partners to ensure that every section of the communities will be reached with HIV/AIDS information and Services.

Emmanuel Yaw Acheampong/Ghanadistricts.com