The Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate has raised concerns over a sharp rise in new HIV infections in the municipality, recording 13 positive cases within the first two months of 2026 alone.
Speaking in an interview after the 2025 Annual Performance Review meeting on Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Municipal Health Director, Alhassan Lawal, described the situation as alarming.
“It will interest you to know that just within January and February, we have recorded 13 positive cases, which is quite serious. If this trend continues, you can imagine what the figures will look like by the end of the year,” he warned.
Mr. Lawal appealed to residents, particularly the youth, to adopt safer sexual practices.
“Let’s be very cautious about how we go about our activities. If it is not on, it shouldn’t be in. Many people focus only on preventing pregnancy, but they forget about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” he said.
He stressed the need for the public to protect themselves during sexual intercourse to avoid lifelong health complications.
Although no research has yet been conducted to determine the exact cause of the increase, the Health Director noted that unregulated commercial sex activities in parts of the municipality could be a contributing factor.
“We are seeing a rise in such activities, and once patronage increases, the likelihood of infections also goes up,” he stated, urging security agencies and other stakeholders to intervene.
He, however, added that intensified testing efforts may also account for the higher numbers.
“The more you test, the more cases you identify. Some people may have been living with it without knowing, but through our enhanced testing, we are uncovering them,” Mr. Lawal explained.
The Municipal Health Directorate says it will continue its public education and testing campaigns to curb the spread and prevent what officials fear could become a worrying trend in Bolgatanga.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Seidu Mutawakil | Bolgatanga
