The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has said that efforts to lower HIV infections in the Volta Region are seriously hampered by the poor condom use among young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women.
The Volta Region now has 19,078 individuals living with HIV (PLHIV), or 5.7% of the 334,721 PLHIV in the country.
They consist of 1,198 youngsters and 4,999 boys and 12,881 females who are 15 years of age or older.
Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, the GAC’s Volta Regional Technical Coordinator, made this revelation last Monday during the Ghana AIDS Commission’s (GAC) reconstituted Regional Committee inauguration in Ho.
According to her, the prevalence rate in the region was 2.1% for the general population, 4.3% for female sex workers (FSW), and 28.1% for men who have sex with men (MSM).
According to Mrs. Anyomi, there are currently 809 new HIV cases in the area, including 69 children and 221 males and 519 females over the age of 15.
According to her, the anti-retroviral coverage varied from 38.4% to 61.5% in all 18 districts.
In the meantime, the GAC Regional Technical Coordinator disclosed that the HIV intervention programs in the area were not broad and were entirely donor-funded.
According to her, PLHIV stigma and discrimination also deterred testing, treatment, and disclosure.
Mrs. Anyomi stated that in order to reach distant or marginalised communities, community-based testing programs must be implemented and HIV testing services must be expanded to ensure that more people are aware of their status.
She emphasised the need of encouraging condom use and making them easily available throughout the area.
James Gunu, the Regional Minister, is the chairman of the nine-person committee.
He promised the Volta Regional Coordinating Council’s support for all GAC initiatives to eradicate AIDS by 2030 in a speech that was read on his behalf.
“Together, we will work to ensure the municipalities and districts in the region have active and functional committees of the commission, and that all stakeholders play their respective roles,” he continued.
Mr. Gunu asked committee members to carry out their responsibilities with effort, zeal, and honesty.
The Ghana Health Service, Network of Associations of Persons Living with HIV, a Civil Society Organisation, Ghana Education Service, Volta Region House of Chiefs, and GAC were among the organisations from which the other committee members were chosen.
Source: newsthemegh.com