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Health Alert: HIV still prevalent-Over 23,000 infected in W/R
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The Western Regional Office of the Ghana AIDS Commission, has advised the public to be on high alert on HIV/AIDS infections which continues to be a source of worry in the region.
“Currently, thereare 23,904 persons living with HIV in the region. Again, 1,101 people newly got infected with HIV in 2022 alone, a situation which is worrying to the Commission and partners,” the Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission for the Western Region, MrDramaniYakubu, has revealed.
He disclosed that “The current HIV Prevalence in the region was 1.63 percent. This means that, out of every 100 people in the Western Region, about two of them were living with HIV. This data clearly tells us that HIV is still here with us and we should not take risks such as unprotected sexual relationships with multiple partners.”
MrYakubu disclosed these to The Spectator in an interview on the update of HIV and Aids campaigns involving stakeholders and also to mark the 2023 World AIDS Day (WAD), which falls on December 1, every year in Ghana and across the world.
Themed “Let Communities Lead”, this year’s event provides the opportunity for stakeholders to unite in response to the HIV & AIDS epidemic, to assess efforts in responding to the epidemic and to remember those who have unfortunately died from AIDS-related causes.
MrYakubu said it was importantfor the public to test to know their HIV status and that of their partner(s), and noted that, having sex at an early age exposes one to HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and early pregnancies.
He said practicing abstinence or being faithful to an uninfected partner were key behaviours to effectively prevent HIV infections.
He said “Having sex with multiple partners increases the risk of HIV and other STI infections. If your HIV test is positive, you ought to visit a health facility to start treatment immediately. Taking HIV medication consistently reduces the amount of virus in your body, promotes good health and prolongs life.”
The Technical Coordinator told The Spectator that Antiretroviral (ARVs) were free in all health facilities, noting that, HIV related stigma creates barriers to HIV testing, treatment, care and support.
“HIV is a virus and anyone can get infected. The theme is a call for action for communities to play a more active role in the HIV response,”MrYakubu said.
He said as part of Ghana’s efforts to integrate HIV and AIDS programming into everyday activities in communities, the regional office, under the guidance of the Regional Minister, MrKwabenaOkyereDarko-Mensah, marked the 2023 Farmers’ Day alongside the World AIDS Day on Friday, November 24, across all the district assemblies.
This was to pave way for the region to host the national event at Tarkwa, yesterday.
Ghana AIDS Commission, he said, has undertaken a number of activities in collaboration with partners, with logistics such as condoms, HIV test kits, fliers and leaflets distributed, especially to the HIV Focal Persons at the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The Commission had also engaged in a month-long HIV sensitisation through local media partners to sensitise the population on HIV and AIDS and to discuss other topical issues and also together with partners, offered free health screening at the Farmers’ Day durbars on November 24.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi
MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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The Ministry of Education (MOE) has warned students, parents and guardians against fake and digitally manipulated Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) placement slips being circulated on social media.
The MOE said it had detected attempts by some unscrupulous individuals to digitally alter placement slips and circulate them online with claims that students’ original school placements had been changed by the Ministry.
A statement signed by Mr Hashmin Mohammed, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Education issued to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, described the claims as “false and misleading.”
It said preliminary internal verification had established that some of the placement slips being circulated did not correspond with records generated from the official CSSPS platform.
The statement noted that discrepancies had been identified in the barcodes and QR codes appearing on some of the purported placement slips.
“The codes did not match the placement information displayed on the documents being circulated as evidence of alleged changes,” it added.
The Ministry’s system records and audit logs did not support the claims being made by individuals circulating the materials, the statement said.
“The evidence available to the Ministry indicates that the affected documents have been digitally manipulated or otherwise altered to create the impression that students’ placements have been changed.”
It described the alleged manipulation as a serious attempt to undermine public confidence in the CSSPS process and create confusion and anxiety among students, parents and guardians.
The statement indicated that the Ministry had referred the matter to the Cyber Security Authority and other relevant security agencies for further investigation and appropriate action. It urged the public to exercise caution and avoid sharing unverified placement slips or claims about placement changes on social media.
Parents, guardians and students have also been advised to rely only on placement information obtained through official CSSPS channels.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the 2026 CSSPS exercise was conducted with transparency, fairness, integrity and accountability, adding that legitimate concerns regarding placement would be investigated through the appropriate channels.
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