The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has urged Ghanaians to take advantage of available HIV prevention services, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and condoms, as the country records thousands of new infections.
The Director-General of the GAC, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said 13,795 new HIV infections had been recorded in the country, with the Bono Region alone accounting for more than 1,000 of the cases.
He said the figures underscored the need for individuals to adopt safer sexual practices while making effective use of available medical interventions to reduce the risk of infection.
Dr Akanbong said people who considered themselves at risk of HIV infection should not hesitate to seek preventive medication, stressing that such interventions could significantly reduce the possibility of acquiring the virus.
He explained that PrEP was available for people at risk of HIV and could be taken to prevent new infections, while PEP could be used after a potential exposure to the virus.
“If you get yourself into a compromising situation of sexual act that you have not planned for and you think there is a higher risk of getting it you can go for medication and protect yourself too,” he said.
The GAC Director-General made the remarks in an interview with the media at Abesim, near Sunyani, on the sidelines of a two-day workshop aimed at strengthening the involvement of legal assistance organisations in HIV and tuberculosis (TB) service provision.
The workshop was organised by the GAC in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Global Fund.
Dr Akanbong described HIV as a public health threat but noted that advances in treatment had transformed the condition into a manageable chronic illness.
He therefore called for wider acceptance and use of HIV prevention services, including PrEP, PEP and condoms, as part of efforts to bring new infections under control.
He also appealed to the public to end stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV, warning that negative attitudes could create barriers to testing, treatment and prevention services.
“It could be your son, daughter or yourself, so let’s not be pointing fingers,” he said, urging Ghanaians to approach HIV as a public health issue requiring collective action rather than blame.
According to him, reducing stigma would encourage more people to seek information, testing and appropriate healthcare without fear of discrimination.
Dr Akanbong said the Commission was rolling out an intensive campaign to curb the spread of HIV and appealed for support from individuals, communities and institutions.
The workshop forms part of a nationwide series being organised across the southern, middle and northern zones to address stigma, discrimination and human rights concerns associated with HIV and TB.
It is bringing together legal practitioners, traditional leaders, law enforcement officers, educators and civil society actors to strengthen their understanding and role in supporting affected persons and improving access to services.
Dr Akanbong stressed that sustained collaboration among these stakeholders, coupled with greater use of available prevention measures, would be critical to reducing HIV transmission and protecting the health and rights of people living with the virus.
