USAID Country Director raises HIV/AIDS growing concerns in Ghana

The Country Director of UNAIDS, Ghana, Hector Sucilla Perez, has mentioned the fact that more than 15,000 people acquired HIV infection in 2024.

Also, he added that the global target for the percentage of decline in new infections was 90 per cent by 2025. However, Ghana’s decline in new infections between 2021 and 2024 is 32 per cent currently.

Freelance journalist network investigationReports from Recent news on HIV/AIDS in Ghana indicate growing concern over rising infection rates, particularly among young people, linked to potentially reduced public awareness and fear due to effective treatment availability.

Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) in Ghana was reported at 1.7 %in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development.

There are also calls for increased prevention efforts and a significant national dialogue to address stigma and improve access to sexual health education. Additionally, a funding shortfall from US government cuts is threatening existing HIV programs, and community organizations are working to address these gaps.

Key Trends and Concerns

Rising Infection Rates: Ghana is facing a concerning increase in new HIV infections, with reports of significant numbers of new cases in 2022 and later.

Decreased Public Vigilance: The availability of effective treatments that allow people with HIV to live long and healthy lives may have inadvertently led to a reduced sense of fear and urgency about contracting the virus, potentially contributing to higher infection rates.

Youth Focus: There is particular concern about the rise in infections among young people, highlighting a need for more targeted interventions and education.

Need for National Dialogue: A national conversation on prevention, involving youth, schools, health workers, and the media, is crucial to address stigma, empower communities, and improve access to sexual health services.

Challenges and Funding Issues

Funding Cuts: A significant impact on HIV programs is expected due to cuts in US government funding, which is impacting crucial work on human rights, stigma reduction, and HIV prevention.

Although Ghana has made modest progress in the fight against HIV, the prevalence among women remains high, with 66% of people living with HIV in the country being females. Besides, approximately 71% of people with HIV in Ghana know their status compared with the global average of 85% and the WHO target of 95%. This relatively low percentage of people with HIV, knowing their status, tends to derail Ghana’s attainment of SDG 3.3. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the drivers of HIV testing status among women of reproductive age in Ghana to inform policy.

Methods

We analysed a nationally representative sample of 14,997 women aged 15–49 from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). A pooled and disaggregated (rural vs. urban) multiple logistic regressions were estimated to examine the drivers of HIV testing uptake among women in Ghana.

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