Ghana recorded at least 34,000 new HIV infections between January and September this year.
This is almost a double of the 17,774 cases that were reported in the year 2023.
GHANET, in a statement signed and issued on Monday, by its President, Mr Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, to commemorate the 2024 World AIDS Day, said even though the country’s national HIV/AIDS prevalence had declined to 1.53 per cent, the rate of new infections was “quite alarming.”
It indicated that the current data showed that HIV/AIDS remained a menace, despite the gains made over the years, urging a new approach to tackle the menace.
For example, GHANET explained that the recent introduction of HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) kits had been embraced by the Ghanaian public with demand for the kits soaring.
“In the same vein, we believe that a mass rollout of interventions on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) will gain high acceptance and popularity, especially among the youth and shore up condom usage,” it said.
The NGO encouraged the private sector, particularly community pharmacies, to “support such initiatives and make these commodities available in all nooks and cranny across the country.”
GHANET expressed worry over reports of upsurge in sex parties (orgies) and hookups (transactional sex), coupled with reports of low usage of condoms, describing it as “quite worrying.”
“We, therefore, on this day, wish to make a special appeal to all Ghanaians, especially the youth, to exercise caution towards risky sexual behaviours,” the statement warned.
The organisation also expressed concern about Ghana’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, describing it as “uninspiring.”
The UNAIDS 95-95-95 global target requires nations to ensure that 95 per cent of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 95 per cent of those diagnosed with HIV are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 per cent of all those receiving ART achieve viral suppression (VLS) by 2025.
Currently, 65 per cent of people who are living with HIV in Ghana were aware of their status, 69 per cent of these people were on treatment while 89 per cent had achieved viral suppression.
GHANET also called for a dedicated fund to support interventions in the country, stressing the need for government to activate the HIV/AIDS fund.
“At the moment Global Fund is the biggest donor for HIV and AIDS interventions in the country. Quite impressively, the Global Fund, has since 2002 invested about 1.5 billion US dollars in the fight against HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Ghana.
“However, it is concerning to note that Global Fund is currently making transitional arrangements that may see its support for countries come to an end.
“It is on this basis that we wish to vociferously call on government to operationalize the National HIV and AIDS Fund (NHAF) as proposed by the GAC Act, 2016 (Act 938),” it emphasised.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Take the Rights Path: End AIDS Now.”
GHANET urged Ghanaians to support the country as it prepared to host the 23rd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 23) in December 2025.
GNA
