AIDS Commission calls for collaboration to achieve 95-95-95 HIV target

Communities and healthcare providers have been urged to strengthen collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) for the realisation of the national 95-95-95 HIV targets.

Rita Afriyie, Technical Coordinator at the Greater Accra Technical Support Unit of the GAC, said the targets—to ensure that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are on sustained treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression- could only be realised through a collective effort.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Commission at the launch of a two-month HIV sensitisation campaign in Accra, she said the GAC remained committed to coordinating national efforts to promote prevention, treatment, and the reduction of stigma and discrimination.

The campaign, on the theme “Your Body, Your Choice, Your Protection”, runs from October 10 to December 10, 2025.

It is being implemented by the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) in collaboration with the GAC, Ghana Health Service, Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), Ghana Education Service(GES), and Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), with support from other partners, including WAPCAS, ARACO Construction Limited, Jekora Ventures Limited, and market associations.

The launch featured a free health screening for residents, focusing on blood pressure, blood sugar, breast cancer, and HIV.

Afriyie said the campaign theme underscored shared responsibility and the power of informed choices in promoting a healthier society.

“To reach the 95-95-95 targets, we must work together—health professionals, educators, faith leaders, traditional authorities, community advocates, and every Ghanaian citizen,” she said.

She described the HIV fight as “a human development issue about dignity, rights, and the future of our youth.”

Afriyie said Greater Accra currently records the highest number of people living with HIV in Ghana, with over 77,800, with an adult prevalence rate of 1.8 percent, and the highest number of new infections estimated at 3,436 in 2024.

She urged intensified education, testing, and treatment efforts, especially among the youth aged 15 to 24, who remained one of the most vulnerable groups.

Mark Jnr Aglobitse, Project Officer at HFFG, said his organisation was implementing youth-focused interventions to reduce new infections and improve access to care.

“We have peer educators who provide HIV testing, STI screening, and health education to young women. We take testing services to the people, making it easier for them to know their status and access PrEP and other preventive resources,” he said.

He said the campaign’s theme reflected the need for individuals to take responsibility for their health and for communities to empower the youth with accurate information.

Bubu Kumordzie, Deputy Manager at Jekora Ventures Limited, said the company’s participation formed part of its commitment to community wellbeing through sanitation and environmental health.

“Though HIV is not waterborne, poor sanitation increases the risk of opportunistic infections such as diarrhoea and skin diseases among people living with HIV,” he said.

He urged residents to adopt healthy lifestyles, avoid risky sexual behaviours, and maintain discipline in their choices.

Recent data from the GAC show that the Korle Klottey Municipality has an HIV prevalence rate of 11.3 percent—the highest in the Greater Accra Region

The ongoing campaign aims to raise awareness on HIV transmission and prevention, promote voluntary testing and counselling, and engage schools, community leaders, and local organisations to reduce stigma and empower young people and women with accurate health information.

By equipping residents with knowledge and access to testing and treatment, the initiative seeks to support Ghana’s broader goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.