Public Health Nurses at the St. Joseph hospital in Koforidua have advised Ghanaians not to indulge in unprotected sex, especially during the Christmas festive season.
According to them, it is one of the major ways to decrease the high rate of HIV/AIDS infections.
“This is because the number one mode of spread is through unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners so it is advisable for everyone to desist from unprotected sex” they stressed.
In an interview with Okley Solomon Kofi on Bryt Fm’s health show (Me Nkwa) on Wednesday December 6, the public health nurses gave an account of the current number of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
“Currently the number of Ghanaians affected by the HIV is 354,927 out of which 239,692 are females with 115,235 being males.
Eastern Region has the highest rate with 2.3%, followed by Greater Accra with 2.2%, Western Region has 2.1%, Brong Ahafo recorded 1.8%, Central Region with 1.7% and 1.7% for the Volta Region.
Ashanti Region has 1.6%, Northern Region has 0.2% which is the lowest.
They added that “As soon as one get infected with the virus it can easily spread without knowing, and that’s why it is advisable to either abstain, use condom or better still be faithful to your partner through this festive season.
The nurses, Helen Samey, Agnes Appietu, Charlotte Adu-Asare, Patience Abbey and Patricia Sagoe added that every individual must get tested to know their status as that can help reduce the rate of spread.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Emmanuella Okyere
