Residents in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have expressed worry about the recent report by the Ghana Health Service about the recent report of surge in HIV/AIDS cases recorded in the Municipality with 27 new infections reported in 2024.
According to the data available to the Ghana News Agency, a total of 756 people were living with HIV in the Municipality with 185 males, 527 females, and 44 children affected.
Out of the total number of affected patients, 253 people were identified as not on any current treatment, which many described as a public health threat to the Municipality.
Madam Dora Kugbonu, the Public Health Promotion Officer at the Keta Municipal Health Directorate, revealed that HIV (Immunodeficiency Virus) was a viral infection that attacks the immune system of the human body.
“The primary cause of HIV/AIDS is the transmission of the virus through bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk,” she said.
She said that if one is left untreated, HIV could progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which could result in a life-threatening condition and could have severe physical, emotional, social consequences and death.
She explained that some effects of the virus were weak immune system which could increase risk of opportunistic infections, stigma and discrimination, emotional distress and mental health issues.
“The HIV is normally cause by having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles or syringes with an infected person, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding and blood transfusions from an infected donor and others”
Credit: MSN