Filed by: Fayilatu Issah|RadioMak
The Upper West Region has an estimated 6,580 people living with HIV, with 422 new HIV infections recorded in the 2025 estimates.
The figures form part of the regional HIV estimates, which also indicate that 4,688 people living with HIV in the region are currently on antiretroviral therapy (ART), representing an overall ART coverage of 71.1 percent.
According to the estimates, adults aged 15 years and above account for the majority of people living with HIV in the region (6,158), while children aged between zero and 14 years constitute a smaller proportion (422).
Of the adult figures, females are the most affected with 67.85 percent while the males constitute 32.15 percent.
The Upper West Region recorded an estimated 0.96 percent HIV prevalence, with adult ART coverage standing at 71.6 percent, while ART coverage among children is estimated at 63.1 percent.
At the district level, the Wa Municipal recorded the highest estimated number of people living with HIV in the region, with 2,083 cases and prevalence rate of 1.33, followed by Nadowli-Kaleo with 741 and 1.29 prevalence rate, Jirapa with 563 and prevalence rate of 0.84, and Wa East with 533.
In terms of prevalence rate, four districts recorded above 1 percent though still below the national prevalence rate of 1.37 percent. These are Wa Municipality (1.33), Nadowli-Kaleo (1.29), Nandom (1.23), and Lawra (1.16).
Other districts recorded lower prevalence rates, including Lambussie at 0.51, Wa West at 0.57, Sissala West at 0.76, and Sissala East at 0.80. The rest are Jirapa at 0.84, Wa East at 0.84, and DBI at 0.91.
The estimates further show significant differences in ART coverage across the districts. Wa Municipal recorded 72 percent overall ART coverage, while Lawra and Nandom recorded 74.6 percent and 74.8 percent, respectively.
However, some districts recorded considerably lower coverage. Wa East recorded 31.5 percent, while Wa West recorded 36.7 percent overall ART coverage.
Nationally, the 2025 estimates put the number of people living with HIV at 338,550, with 20,061 estimated new HIV infections and 225,563 people on ART. The national HIV prevalence is estimated at 1.37 percent, with overall ART coverage at 66.5 percent.
The figures highlight the need for sustained HIV prevention, testing and treatment efforts, particularly in districts where ART coverage remains relatively low.
