The Acting Public Relations Officer of Birim Central Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region, who also doubled as the Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, Jesus Alodina Abolunga Awireba, revealed that a total of 2,720 people in the municipality are estimated to be living with HIV.

He asserts that there are an extensive number of residents in the municipality living with HIV, but it is exceedingly challenging to identify them

According to Mr. Jesus, it is difficult to diagnose HIV in people with robust immune systems because of the absence of symptoms.

Mr. Jesus Alodina highlighted that early initiation of treatment can halt the progression of the virus to the AIDS stage, urging individuals who test positive to seek treatment at health facilities convenient for them.

He added that stigmatisation from family, friends, and society is the major factor that kills a lot of people, not HIV itself.

He further explained that the four (4) major modes of transmission of such disease are via breast milk, kisses, blood transfusion, and sexual intercourse.

Mr. Jesus Alodina said that literature and available data indicate that men having sex with men, female commercial sex workers, long-distance drivers, and uniformed men are mostly at risk.