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Statistics from the Sunyani West District Health Directorate has it that 32 pregnant women tested positive for HIV in 2014.

The number was out of the 3,117 pregnant women who were screened in the period at various antenatal clinics in the district. 

Mrs Eva Aryee, the Sunyani West District Director of Health, disclosed this at the 2014 Annual Performance Review Meeting of the Directorate at Fiapre.

Mrs Aryee noted that the 32 pregnant women have been placed on the anti-retroviral therapy to protect their unborn babies. 

According to Mrs Aryee, HIV has become a menace in the district, but they are doing their best to reduce mother-to-child transmission. 

The district also recorded one maternal death, eight stillbirths, seven cases of cholera, and 13 suspected cases of yellow fever. 

The Out Patients Department (OPD) cases increased from 126,810 in 2013 to 143,397 in 2014, with malaria recording the highest figure.

Mrs Aryee noted that NHIA’s debt of GH¢800,645.76 to the Health Directorate had affected almost all the various health facilities and was crippling health activities in the district. She said the delay in release of the funds from NHIS has become a headache for her.

She also revealed that most health workers in the district refused postings to deprived communities, which affected health delivery in the district. Apart from this, accommodation for staff was a problem, as well as frequent breakdown of motorbikes.

The Sunyani West District Assembly also constructed CHPS compound for the Abronye Community and mechanised a borehole for the people of Bofourkrom. The construction of a CHPS compound for the Akwasuo Community has been awarded to a contractor.