35% of Ghanaians Living with HIV Untested - AIDS Commission
Ghana's quest to combat HIV/AIDS has hit a snag, with a staggering 35% of citizens living with the virus remaining unaware of their status according to the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
Furthermore, 55% of this demographic has not enrolled in antiretroviral treatment, hindering the Commission's efforts to achieve treatment targets.
Despite these setbacks, GAC has made notable strides in addressing the epidemic. Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of the GAC, emphasized the need for intensified efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS during the 2024 World AIDS Day National Durbar Celebration, on December 2.
“Despite the progress we have made, the epidemic care continues to show a very low rate of decline…It is estimated that 35% of Ghanaians living with HIV, have not tested and don’t know their HIV status. While 55% of them are not on antiretroviral medicines,” Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene stated.
The Minister for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of prioritizing prevention to eradicate the disease. “As much as possible, we must invest our energies into prevention so that with time, elimination would be the standard, so that we can be like other countries, the first world countries.”
Ghana's HIV/AIDS prevalence is characterized as a low-level generalized epidemic, with sexual transmission being the primary mode of transmission. The epidemic disproportionately affects certain regions, including Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, and Western Region, which account for 75% of people living with HIV in Ghana.
As Ghana marks World AIDS Day, the GAC and health advocates are stepping up efforts to raise awareness, promote prevention, and ensure access to treatment for all those affected.
Source: Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
