The Chief Executive Officer of PIWAK Natural Health, Dr Prince Nelson Mortoti, has expressed grave concern over the persistent rise in HIV infections in the Ashanti Region, describing the trend as a major public health challenge that requires urgent collective action.
Recent regional estimates released by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) indicate that the Ashanti Region recorded 2,997 new HIV infections in 2024, translating into an average of about nine new cases every day.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Area continues to account for a significant proportion of the new infections, prompting renewed calls for intensified prevention and treatment interventions.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health, Dr Fred Adomako Boateng, acknowledged progress in HIV testing and treatment uptake but warned that a considerable number of people living with HIV were still not accessing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
“This gap poses a significant public health risk, and the only way to bridge it is by improving testing, increasing awareness, and making prevention services easily accessible everywhere,” Dr Adomako Boateng stated.
He noted that the Regional Health Directorate was scaling up HIV testing and support services in communities within Kumasi and its environs. However, he stressed that stigma and discrimination, particularly among men and young people, continued to undermine efforts to control the spread of the virus.
“Knowing your status is the first and most powerful step in protecting yourself and those you love,” he said, urging residents to take advantage of the free HIV testing and counselling services available at health facilities across the region.
The Ashanti Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Madam Olivia Graham, also highlighted worrying trends in the data, noting that women constituted a larger proportion of reported infections.
She explained that this was partly due to higher testing rates among women compared to men, suggesting that many male infections might remain undiagnosed.
Madam Graham further disclosed that young people aged 15 to 24 years accounted for a significant share of new infections, and called for targeted interventions to address risky behaviours and strengthen preventive education among the youth.
Reacting to the situation, Dr Mortoti, an award-winning herbal practitioner and producer of the 3P Garlic Mixture, urged the public to take their health seriously and adopt preventive lifestyles.
While emphasising that medical treatment and adherence to professional health advice remain essential, he noted that supporting the body’s immune system was also important in maintaining overall health.
Dr Mortoti encouraged the public to consider the 3P Garlic Mixture, which he described as a natural immune booster with the potency to strengthen the immune system and help the body fight against diseases.
He appealed to residents of the Ashanti Region to remain vigilant, get tested regularly, avoid stigmatisation, and take proactive steps to safeguard their health as stakeholders work together to curb the rising HIV infections.
