News Desk
The Ghana AIDS Commission has revealed that People Living with HIV (PLHIV) do not die from the virus itself, but rather from the stigma that society attaches to them.
According to the Volta/Oti Regional Technical Coordinator of the commission, Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, stigma and discrimination against PLHIV discourage testing, treatment, and disclosure.
Anyomi presented a paper on the “State of HIV Epidemic” at a Ghana AIDS Commission/Youth Employment Agency forum in Ho.
She disclosed that there are currently 19,078 people living with HIV in the Volta Region, with 4,999 males, 12,881 females, and 1,198 children under 14 years.
She also noted that eight districts in the region contribute 75% of the total number of new infections.
Challenges
Anyomi highlighted several challenges, including the decline in donor funding, which has created significant gaps in financing HIV/AIDS programs.
She also mentioned low condom use among young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, as a significant challenge.
Additionally, she emphasized that stigma and discrimination against PLHIV discourage testing, treatment, and disclosure.
Call To Action
The Ghana AIDS Commission has called on Community Police Assistants (CPAs) to be HIV advocates to their peers and community members.
Anyomi urged the CPAs to abstain from unprotected sex at their duty posts, emphasizing that prevention is always better than cure.
She also stressed the importance of implementing community-based testing programs to reach remote or marginalized populations.
HIV Management
Anyomi emphasized that HIV can be managed, and with proper treatment, PLHIV can lead everyday lives.
Regional Data
The Volta Region has a significant number of PLHIV, with only one district having the highest coverage of over 61% of antiretroviral treatment, while the target is 95%.
