The Ghana AIDS Commission has expressed concern over the low rate of condom use among sexually active individuals, citing it as a contributing factor to the recent increase in HIV infections in the country.
According to the Commission, the rise in HIV cases is particularly noticeable among men who have sex with men, where condom use is reportedly low.
This population group is seen as a “bridging population,” potentially spreading the virus to others in the community through bisexual behavior.
“For instance, if we take men who have sex with men, the survey we conducted shows that about 50% of them are young people who are bisexuals. So they may be sleeping with men but are also sleeping with women and those women have other partners and they continue to spread HIV. So, the reality is that HIV is an issue in Ghana. We have not ended it yet, it has not stopped and transmission is still occurring,” he said.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programmes Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme, highlighted the need for increased education on the importance of condom use and HIV prevention.
He noted that while progress has been made in HIV awareness and treatment, there is still a lack of understanding among the youth about the seriousness of the disease.
The Commission’s concerns come as Ghana recorded 17,000 new HIV infections and 12,000 related deaths in 2023. Dr. Addo emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to prevent further transmission and reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in Ghana.