Ahafo Region: 636 new cases of HIV infections recorded in 6 months
A total of 636 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections have been reported in the Ahafo Region during the first half of 2025, the Regional Health Directorate has announced.
The Regional Health Directorate has expressed concern regarding the infection rate among adolescents, which constitutes 14% of the new infections in the region, as revealed in their half-year report.
Dr. Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong, Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, emphasized the importance of taking HIV prevention measures seriously, particularly among the youth, to reduce the infection rate in the region during a press briefing in Hwediem.
“Total abstinence from sex, being faithful to your sexual partners, and the careful use of condoms are effective ways to limit the transmission of the viral disease,” Dr. Owusu-Sarpong stated.
Furthermore, she highlighted the availability of various HIV interventions in their facilities, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, early infant diagnosis, and HIV linkage to care with antiretroviral medications.
Dr. Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong recommended that residents of the Ahafo region take advantage of the available healthcare interventions to receive prompt medical attention and prevent further infections.
She noted that three suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported in Asunafo South and North, with the affected individuals and their contacts in stable condition.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox/Monkeypox virus, primarily spread through contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated materials.
The incubation period typically ranges from 3 to 13 days, with a broader range of 2 to 21 days.
Michael Beridu, Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, explained that humans can become infected with diseases from animals, including non-human primates and rodents, through bites, scratches, or direct contact with bodily fluids.
Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding. Individuals suspected of infection typically experience acute illness characterized by fever, intense headache, back pain, and severe asthenia, followed by a rash one to three days later.
The Deputy Director noted that the rash often begins on the face and spreads to other body parts, including the soles of the feet and palms of the hands.
Mr. Beridu emphasized the importance of practicing hand hygiene through frequent handwashing, proper handling of dead animals, and avoiding stigma and discrimination.
