Accra, July 08, GNA – The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has clarified the HIV testing results with regarding the recent security services recruitment saying, a single reactive HIV test result “under national HIV testing guidelines, does not constitute a confirmed HIV diagnosis.
“An initial reactive result is preliminary and must be followed by the nationally approved three-test serial testing algorithm before an individual’s HIV status can be confirmed.”
Briefing the media in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Fred Nana Opoku Director of Technical Services of the GAC explained that it was important that public communication accurately distinguished between an initial reactive screening result and a confirmed HIV-positive diagnosis.
He emphasisesd that HIV testing should always be conducted in accordance with national guidelines, including informed consent, confidentiality, and appropriate counselling.
“Individuals with reactive screening results should receive professional counselling and should be supported to complete the confirmatory testing process and, where necessary, be linked to treatment and care services.”
The Minister of Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, speaking before Parliament’s Assurances Committee on Monday, July 6, disclosed that about 1,300 applicants in the recent security services recruitment exercise tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) during mandatory medical screening.
He explained that the medical examination formed part of the standard recruitment process to determine the health and fitness of applicants before enlistment into the various security services.
This statement has sparked public reactions with GAC clarifying some of the issues.
Dr Poku explained that the reported figure of approximately 1,300 reactive HIV test results out of about 100,000 applicants represented approximately 1.3 percent of those screened, saying, “This is broadly consistent with Ghana’s estimated national HIV prevalence of 1.49 percent among adults at the end of 2024.”
“HIV status alone should not constitute grounds for denying employment or otherwise limiting an individual’s opportunities. Medical fitness for specific occupations should be determined in accordance with established medical and occupational standards and not on the basis of stigma or misconceptions about HIV,” he said.
He reiterated that the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938) prohibited discrimination against persons living with HIV in employment and other areas of public life.
He noted that public communication on HIV, if not carefully framed, may unintentionally reinforce stigma and discourage individuals from accessing HIV testing and treatment services.
“Ghana has made significant progress in expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment and care, and sustaining these gains requires creating an environment in which people feel confident to know their status without fear of discrimination.”
Dr Poku noted that the Commission remained committed to working with all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that HIV testing, counselling and public communication are guided by scientific evidence, national policy, and respect for human rights. The Commission considers it important to provide clarification on HIV testing protocols and public communication to ensure that discussions on HIV remain scientifically accurate, protect human rights, and support national efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
The Commission recognises the importance of medical screening in recruitment processes and appreciates the efforts of the security services to safeguard the health of their personnel. At the same time, the Commission wishes to provide important public health clarification to ensure that discussions on HIV remain accurate, evidence-based, and respectful of the rights and dignity of all persons.
He noted that the reported figures should therefore not be interpreted as unusual or indicative of an emerging public health concern.
“Together, we can promote accurate information, encourage voluntary HIV testing, protect the dignity of every individual, and accelerate Ghana’s progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030”, he added.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei