I submit herewith, the 2022 Second Quarter Activity Report on HIV/AIDS in respect of New Juaben North Municipal Assembly for your study and necessary action.
Thank you.
For: MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALHAJI IBRAHIM TIJANI AMADU
(MUNICIPAL CO-ORD. DIRECTOR)
ATTENTION:
REGIONAL HIV/AIDS FOCAL PERSON
TECHNICAL SUPPORT UNIT
EASTERN REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL
NEW JUABEN NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
SECOND QUARTER ACTIVITY REPORT ON HIV/AIDS
JULY 2022
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report gives details about the programs and activities implemented in the second quarter of 2022.
- INTRODUCTION
A sensitization program on HIV was held on Wednesday, May 11 2022 at the Methodist Church Hall in Suhyen with female cocoa farmers. The Municipal HIV/AIDS Focal Person was the facilitator and the sensitization program lasted for an hour.
On Wednesday 29th June 2022, the Municipal AIDS Committee (MAC) of the New Juaben North Municipal met to discuss the HIV/AIDS situation in the Municipality and the way forward. The meeting was held at the Municipal Assembly Hall and spanned for approximately, an hour and twenty minutes. Presentations were made by the Municipal HIV/AIDS Focal Person, HIV/AIDS Coordinator for St. Joseph Hospital and the Program Officer for Own your Future.
- OBJECTIVES
Sensitization
- To transfer basic knowledge related to HIV/AIDS.
- To educate female cocoa farmers on the need for HIV testing and counselling.
MAC Meeting
- To ascertain the HIV situation in the Municipality.
- To discuss the way forward for the prevention and control of HIV within the Municipality.
- ACTIVITIES
4.1 Sensitization on HIV at Suhyen
Female cocoa farmers who participated in the sensitization program were given a general overview on HIV/AIDS. This included its mode of transmission, sources of infection, incubation period, signs of AIDS and its prevention. Female farmers were also encouraged on the importance of taking an HIV Test. They were also informed on the available HIV Testing Centers within the Municipality. Questions by the participants after the presentation were duly answered.
4.2 Presentation on HIV/AIDS situation in the Municipality
4.2.1 HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC)
In 2021, a total of one thousand, six hundred and forty-two (1, 642) persons in the New Juaben Municipal were tested for HIV. Out of this number, eighty-five (85) persons tested positive, constituting 5.2% of the total number of people who tested for HIV. It was made known that, most of the positive cases were sourced from Effiduase and Asokore.
With respect to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), out of the eighty-five (85) persons who tested positive for HIV in 2021, seventy-five (75) of them were successfully put on ART constituting 88.2% of the total number of people who tested positive for HIV. Unfortunately, the rest were lost to follow up.
4.2.2 HIV situation in the Antenatal Unit – St. Joseph Hospital
- All HIV positive mothers were initiated and sustained on Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) drugs.
- All HIV exposed infants tested negative after DBS were taken.
4.2.3 Achievements
The House was informed of some achievements:
- A rise in the number of registrants and attendants of Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT).
- Initiation and sustenance of Pregnancy School.
4.3 Challenges
Some challenges which were also made known to the House included:
- Increasing number of HIV clients lost to follow up.
- Data inconsistencies in District Health Information Management System (DHIMS).
- Low HTC from the health facilities in the District.
4.4 Way Forward
The way forward communicated by the HIV/AIDS Coordinator and the House included the following:
- Tracking defaulter clients and calling them before losing them to follow up.
- Training and sensitization of staff on the new HIV testing protocols.
- Ensuring HIV testing kits are available at all health facilities to enhance testing.
- Implementation of planned third quarter activities.
- CONCLUSION
In concluding the meeting, the Chairperson commended the HIV/AIDS Coordinator and his team at St. Joseph Hospital for their efforts in ensuring that, all HIV positive pregnant women were put on ARTs and in addition, DBS done for exposed HIV infants.
She further asked that, sensitization and other planned third quarter activities be implemented so as to intensify education and testing in order to reduce the HIV prevalence rate within the Municipality.
She ended by thanking members for a fruitful discussion and prayed for strength for them to continue in their work.