Ghana Renews Fight Against HIV/AIDS as World Marks AIDS Day
As the world observed World AIDS Day on December 1, 2024, Ghana’s HIV and AIDS community came together to reflect on the country’s progress in the fight against the disease. The Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) marked the occasion with a special message, urging Ghanaians to remain vigilant and committed to ending the AIDS epidemic.
Despite significant gains in reducing the national HIV prevalence rate to 1.53%, GHANET President Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin sounded a warning bell. “The fight against HIV and AIDS is far from over,” he cautioned. “The rate of new infections is alarming, with 17,774 cases reported in 2023 and over 34,000 new cases diagnosed between January and September 2024.”
Ortsin attributed the rising infection rates to risky sexual behaviors, particularly among the youth. “We are concerned about reports of sex parties and hookups, as well as low condom usage,” he said. “We urge all Ghanaians, especially the youth, to exercise caution and take responsibility for their sexual health.”
GHANET also called on the government to introduce new interventions and strategies to combat the disease. The organization praised the recent introduction of HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) kits, which have been widely embraced by the public. Ortsin suggested that a mass rollout of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) interventions could also help reduce new infections.
Ghana’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets has been slow, with only 65% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) tested, 69% of those tested on treatment, and 89% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression. GHANET attributed this slow progress to the lack of a dedicated fund to support HIV and AIDS interventions.
The organization urged the government to operationalize the National HIV and AIDS Fund (NHA) as proposed by the GAC Act, 2016 (Act 938). This fund would provide a sustainable source of financing for HIV and AIDS programs in Ghana.
As Ghana prepares to host the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 23) in December 2025, GHANET called on all Ghanaians to support the event and make it a success.
In conclusion, GHANET’s message on World AIDS Day 2024 was clear: the fight against HIV and AIDS is not yet won, and Ghanaians must remain committed to ending the epidemic.
