Mrs. Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, Volta Regional Technical Coordinator, Ghana AIDS Commission Tuesday disclosed that there were 778 new HIV infections, representing 4.4 per cent of Ghana’s total new infections of 17,774 in 2023.
She said out of this number, 230 were male adults of 15 years and above, 468 were adult females of 15 years and above, 214 were young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years and children between the ages of zero and 14 years accounted for 80.
Mrs. Anyomi made the disclosure when her outfit and some members of the Ghana AIDS Commission’s Regional Committee, together with some Executives of the Coalition of NGOs in Health, called on Mr. James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister in his office in Ho.
She stated that the regional adult HIV prevalence was 1.35 per cent making it the ninth on the HIV league table, whilst the prevalence among key population was 4.3 per cent for female sex workers and 28.9 per cent for men, who have sex with men.
The Regional Technical Coordinator stated that the Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage for all ages in the region was 57.1 percent adding that the ART coverage for adults of 15 years and above was 58.0 percent whilst that for children of zero to 14 years was 41.5 percent.
Mrs. Anyomi noted that Central Tongu, Ketu North, Ketu South and North Tongu contributed 42.03 per cent of the total number of new infections.
She said the prevalence rates of 2.08, 1.6 and 1.57 per cent for Kpando, Central Tongu and North Tongu respectively were higher than both the regional and national prevalence of 1.35 and 1.53 per cent respectively.
Mrs. Anyomi stated that nine districts in the region, Kpando, Ho, Ketu North, South Dayi, Central Tongu, North Dayi, Keta, Ho West and North Tongu had prevalence rate higher than the regional prevalence.
Also, 15 out of the 18 districts had prevalence rates higher than one percent and above.
She said the way forward was stepping up prevention programs such as the promotion of the use of condoms and stigma and discrimination. Not forgetting education and awareness campaigns such as the utilization of the various media channels (TV, radio and social media platforms) and community information centers to disseminate accurate information on HIV prevention, transmission and treatment.
Finally, utilization of the various clubs at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels to educate and disseminate accurate information on HIV prevention, transmission and treatment.
She stated that in expending access to testing, HIV self-testing had been rolled out in the region, and it is targeting underserved populations like adult men, adolescent and young people, internet-based and high-class sex workers and drug users and People Living with HIV lost to follow-ups. The region has also prioritized community testing programs focusing on major festivities and national events.
Mr. Victor Ntumy, the National Executive of the Ghana Coalition of NGO in Health intimated that some of their challenges included inaccessibility of some areas for their outreach programmes and financial constraints which he said continued to limit their efforts.
Mr. Gunu expressed his appreciation for their efforts and dedication and reaffirmed that health remained one of the top priorities of the current government under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
He encouraged them to continue collaborating with other stakeholders in order to minimize the spread of the disease.
Mr. Gunu emphasised the need for sustained awareness creation, especially among the youth.
Present were Reverend Gershon Kwame Osei, Regional Chairman of Coalition of NGOs in Health, Reverend Seth Mawutor, Regional Chairman Christian Council of Ghana, Alhaji Anas Hamidu, Representative of the Muslim Council and Mr. Samuel Atidzah, Executive Member of the Coalition of NGOs in Health.
GNA