Since January to the third quarter of 2024, Ghana has recorded over 34,000 new HIV infections, according to the Ghana Health Service’s National HIV and AIDS Control Programme.
With approximately 1.3 million people screened during this period, Programme Manager Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo stressed the importance of public testing in identifying new cases.
“Between January and the third quarter alone, the number of people we identified as positives through our testing activities was 34,000,” he noted.
Dr. Ayisi Addo shared these findings at the launch of the 2024 World AIDS Day, hosted by the Ghana AIDS Commission.
The event included a candlelight procession in memory of lives lost to AIDS and aimed to mobilize public support for the fight against HIV.
World AIDS Day, observed every December 1, serves as an annual call for global solidarity in HIV prevention and support for those living with the virus.
This year’s theme, “Take the Rights Path,” highlights the importance of upholding human rights in the battle against HIV.
Expressing concern over the high infection rates this year, Dr. Ayisi emphasized that they pose a significant challenge to Ghana’s goal of eradicating HIV by 2030.
He advised sexually active individuals to use condoms consistently and correctly as a preventive measure and encouraged those infected to adhere strictly to treatment protocols to reduce the risk of transmission.
“The safest way to protect each other is to be faithful to your partner. Reduce new infections by behaving well or abstaining from sexual activities,” he advised, urging persons living with HIV to take their treatment seriously to prevent further transmission.
The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Atuahene Kyeremeh, reinforced the commission’s dedication to achieving the 2030 goal in partnership with various stakeholders.
He stressed the importance of widespread screening and treatment services, encouraging the public to utilize free treatment options available.
To further raise awareness, the Ghana AIDS Commission has organized a series of activities for World AIDS Day, including a major durbar in Accra on December 2, 2024.
Representatives from the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, and the National Association of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+) will participate alongside other key partners.
Attendees at the launch event expressed support for the Ghana AIDS Commission’s commitment to ending HIV transmission by 2030, uniting behind the shared goal of an HIV-free future.