The Bono Regional Director of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, has revealed alarming statistics on the spread of HIV in the region, highlighting that the Bono Region currently has the highest HIV prevalence in Ghana at 2.12%.
This figure surpasses the national prevalence rate of 1.5%, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.
According to Mr. Bambilla, Ghana’s total HIV population stands at 334,095 individuals, with women making up 65% and men 35%. The Bono Region ranks sixth nationally in terms of overall HIV cases, with a total of 18,564 people living with the virus.
Within the region’s 12 Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Berekum Municipal has the highest prevalence rate at 3.34%, followed by Dormaa East at 3.11%. Both figures significantly exceed the regional and national averages, signaling a troubling trend in HIV transmission.
Rising Cases and Testing Efforts
Between January and September 2024, a total of 46,889 individuals were tested for HIV in the Bono Region, with 2,749 confirmed positive cases. District-specific data shows that in Dormaa Central Municipal, 1,666 men were tested, with 50 testing positive, while 4,861 women were tested, yielding 120 positive cases. In Dormaa West, 698 men were examined, with 23 testing positive, while 1,990 women were tested, with 39 positive cases. Dormaa East also recorded 70 male and 72 female positive cases.
Mr. Bambilla emphasized the severity of the situation and called for increased preventive measures to curb the spread of HIV in the region.
Parental Responsibility and Youth Awareness
The Ghana AIDS Commission has attributed the rising HIV rates in Bono Region to the negligence of some parents. Mr. Bambilla stressed that the factors leading to teenage pregnancies are also responsible for the increasing spread of HIV, urging parents to take a more active role in guiding their children.
“Parents must provide proper guidance and education to their children to steer them away from immoral conduct and reduce their risk of contracting HIV,” he stated.
He also encouraged the youth to make responsible life choices to protect themselves from the virus.
As the region battles rising HIV rates, health authorities continue to advocate for increased awareness, testing, and preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus.
