Accra, Ghana (GS) The infection rate of the HIV/AIDS disease among Ghanaians continues to increase in spite of efforts by the Ghana Aids Commission, {GAC). to educate the public about the dangers of the disease and measures that can be taken to reduce the spread.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic newspaper in Accra, the Program Manager of the national STIs and HIV/AIDS control program, Dr. Ayisi Addo, said Ghana has so far recorded 23,495 HIV/AIDS cases in the first six months of the year 2022.
According to Dr. Ayisi Addo, the HIV/AIDS infections were detected among almost all the population demographics in the country, including older men and women, pregnant or expecting mothers and especially sex workers, who engage in unprotected sex with their clients.
The Ghana HIV/AIDS Program Manager said though this year’s half-year HIV/AIDS infection data showed a slight decrease from a high of 25,545 which was recorded in 2021, the infection rate of the disease is still unacceptable. He attributed the jump in new infections partly to the country’s focus on the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, which has overwhelmed health services across the world and caused some people to lose guard in protecting themselves.
“The figure for this new infection is too high, so we need to intensify education to let people know that HIV is still real; it is around and there must be constant reminders. We have to let people know that they need to stick to the prevention strategies, whether they are children or adults,” Dr. Ayisi Addo stressed.
The Program Manager said ignorance and complacency are responsible for the high increase in number of new HIV/AIDS cases, warning that because Ghana’s health authorities are no longer making enough noise about the disease, due to their intense focus in trying to stop the spread of Covid-19, some members of the public think the disease is no longer a problem.
He said the following regions; Ahafo, Eastern, Bono and Western North recorded the highest HIV/AIDS prevalance rate of 4% each, followed closely by Gt, Accra and Ashanti Regions which recorded 3% infection rate each among the people who were tested. The rest of the regions in the country recorded just about 1% infection rate each.
Dr. Ayisi Addo revealed that as of December 2021, the estimated number of people who were living with HIV stood at 350.000. However Ghana’s population of HIV/AIDS positive persons who fall under the direct radar of the Program hovers around 71% of the total number.
Dr. Ayisi Addo advised the public to test and check for their HIV/AIDS infection status periodically, emphasizing that the best ways for people to protect themselves from getting infected by the disease is through proper and regular use of condoms, avoid the sharing of syringes as well as following approved sexually transmitted diseases prevention protocols.
