More people especially pregnant women are said to be living with Human Immune Virus in the Amansie West District, as a result of influx of galamsey activities.Health officials in the area say a lot of people now engage in unprotected sex as galamsey activities boom in the area, making it one of the districts in Ashanti region with high HIV prevalence.One hundred and sixteen (116)new infections have been recorded in the first half of 2012 alone, while the district is said to one with high mother-to-child transmission figures.They comprise 70 pregnant mothers and 46 others who tested positive for the virus at the hospital.Pregnant mothers aged between 30 and 34 recorded the highest, with 17 cases followed by those aged 20-24 years, with 16 cases. Thirteen teenagers, aged between 15 and 19 were also among those infected.Only nine of those tested positive are receiving treatment as a result of challenges in accessing anti-retroviral drugs.But health officials are not surprised at the figures because mining centers are noted for recording high HIV/AIDS cases.Medical Superintendent at St. Martin’s Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum, Dr. Ofori Amanfo says sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and Syphilis are on the rise in the area.Out of 1,985 pregnant women screened, 68 tested positive for Syphilis for the same period.Dr. Ofori expressed worry at the situation: “Because of commercial activities, like galamsey, people move all the way from different communities, some even don’t have accommodations...you find sexual activities going on. People really don’t protect themselves when it comes to those things so I am not surprised HIV too is going on so we can pin it on galamsey”.Despite ongoing education, Amansie West District was among the districts with high HIV prevalence in the last Sentinel Survey conducted by the Ghana Aids Commission.But Dr. Ofori says health personnel will never give up the fight. “HIV rate is high if you go to Tarkwa, Akwatia and even Obuasi. Every place where there is mining activity, you tend to find that there is rising HIV prevalence”.