912 tested HIV positive in the northern region in the first quarter of 2018, healthy authorities say

Nine hundred and twelve (912) people in the Northern Region have tested positive for HIV out of a total of eighty-eight thousand and 16 who tested in the first quarter of 2018, the acting northern regional health director, Dr. John Abenyire revealed.

According to him, aside the 912 people who tested positive, out of an estimated number of 61 thousand and 170 pregnant women, the region was able to test 58 thousand 6 hundred and 73 out of which 262 tested positive.

He also revealed that reports available to him indicate that the number of men having sex with their fellow men in the region is on the rise.

Speaking at a durbar to mark this year’s World AIDS Day in Gambaga in the East Mamprusi Municipality, Dr Abenyire expressed worry that commercial sex work was also on the rise in the region in addition to  some cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation, predispose people to HIV infections.

For this reason, he has encouraged people to test and know their HIV status.

He also said there are 400 health facilities in the region which take care of HIV cases and urged the public to visit any of such facilities to address their HIV issues.

By Jonas Biawuribe/zaaradio.com