The GOSANET Foundation has called for a stronger community-led response to HIV in the South Dayi District, citing the area’s relatively high prevalence and gaps in treatment coverage.
The Foundation’s Executive Director, Samuel Yao Atidzah, made the call during an HIV community engagement at Dzemeni in the Volta Region.
He said the 2025 Volta Region HIV Fact Sheet released by the Ghana AIDS Commission showed that South Dayi had an adult HIV prevalence of 1.85 percent, with an estimated 846 people living with HIV.
The district also recorded 52 new HIV infections, while overall antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage stood at 57.7 percent for all ages.
Mr Atidzah said the figures demonstrated the need to strengthen access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services, particularly for vulnerable populations.
He noted that the Volta Region had an estimated 18,387 people living with HIV and recorded 713 new infections during the period covered by the fact sheet.
The regional adult HIV prevalence among people aged between 15 and 49 years stood at 1.41 percent, while 75 percent of people living with HIV were aware of their status and 63.3 percent of adults living with the virus were receiving ART.
According to Mr Atidzah, the figures reinforced the need for sustained community education and efforts to encourage more people to test regularly and begin treatment early where necessary.
Under the GHANET OVP Project, he said, GOSANET Foundation was implementing a range of HIV prevention interventions in South Dayi.
These include community sensitisation, promotion of HIV self-testing, distribution of HIV self-test kits and condoms, behaviour change communication, referrals for confirmatory testing and treatment, and advocacy against stigma and discrimination.
Mr Atidzah commended the Ghana AIDS Commission, particularly the Volta Regional Technical Coordinator, Mary Naa Ashley Anyomi, for providing data that enabled stakeholders to design interventions based on the specific needs of communities.
He urged traditional authorities, religious leaders, fisherfolk associations, youth groups, community volunteers, civil society organisations, the media and development partners to work together to increase HIV awareness and promote regular testing and safer sexual practices.
“Ending HIV as a public health threat requires collective responsibility and sustained investment in prevention programmes, especially vulnerable populations,” he said.
Mr Atidzah reaffirmed GOSANET Foundation’s commitment to working with the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network, the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders to expand access to accurate HIV information, prevention services, testing, treatment and care.
“Together we can reduce new HIV infections and build healthier communities,” he added.
