Accra, Dec. 2, GNA – Mr. Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, President, Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), has reiterated the call on the youth to exercise caution in risky sexual behaviours.
He said the fight against HIV and AIDS was not over and that recent reports of upsurge in sex parties and transactional sex, coupled with reports of low usage of condoms were worrying.
The President of GHANET said this in a press statement made available to the Ghana News Agency in commemoration of the 2024 World AIDS Day, under the theme, “Take the Rights Path: Ending AIDS Together, Stepping Up Prevention Efforts.”
Mr. Ortsin said though the national prevalence had declined to 1.53 per cent, the rate of new infections was quite alarming.
He said earlier this year, the Ghana AIDS Commission reported that cases of new infections in the year 2023 was 17,774.
“Also, in November this year, National AIDS/STI Control Programme reported that between January and September this year, the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases came up to about 34,000,” he added.
He said the above data showed that HIV and AIDS still remained a menace in spite of all the gains made over the years.
The President of GHANET appealed to the Government to consider introducing newer interventions and strategies in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
He said the recent introduction of HIV Self-Testing kits had been widely embraced by the public and that there was now a soaring demand for the kits.
Mr. Ortsin said in the same vein, a mass rollout of interventions on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post Exposure Prophylaxis should be sustained to gain high acceptance and popularity, especially among the youth and shore up condom usage.
He encouraged the private sector, particularly community pharmacies, to support such initiatives and make these commodities available in all nooks and crannies across the country.
The President said Ghana’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, at the present time, was uninspiring.
He said the country had been able to test only 65 per cent of the estimated 334,000 persons living with HIV.
“And out of the number of people tested, only 69 per cent have been put on treatment, and for those on treatment, only 89 per cent have achieved viral suppression,” he added.
However, he said it was concerning to note that the Global Fund was currently making transitional arrangements that may see its support for countries come to an end.
He said it was on that basis that they wanted the Government to operationalise the National HIV and AIDS Fund as proposed by the Ghana AIDS Commission’s Act, 2016 (Act 938).
Mr. Ortsin said as Ghana prepared to host the 23rd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa in December 2025, GHANET called for support from all sections of the Ghanaian society to make the event a grand success.
GNA