President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted the urgent need to tackle gender disparities to effectively end the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Ghana.
He stated that Ghana cannot eliminate AIDS without addressing gender-based violence, harmful practices such as child marriage, and the silence surrounding these issues in many communities.
The President made the call in a speech delivered on his behalf by Mr. Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Member of Parliament for Suame, during a durbar held to commemorate the 2024 World AIDS Day celebration in Accra.
Research shows that globally, 44 percent of new HIV infections occur in women, with women and girls accounting for 62 percent of new infections in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In Ghana, women represent 60 percent of all new HIV infections.
“It is alarming that two-thirds of people living with HIV are women, and that adolescent girls account for the majority of new infections among young people,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“These are not just numbers, they are our daughters, they are our nieces, they are our sisters.
“We cannot end AIDS if we ignore the challenges of gender-based violence, harmful practices like child marriage, and the silence around these issues in many of our communities,” he stated.
The President said that despite Ghana’s progress in tackling HIV, stigma and discrimination remained persistent challenges.
He urged unity among healthcare workers, civil society groups, religious leaders, and communities for ongoing education and advocacy.
President Akufo-Addo also assured that the government had taken decisive steps, including waiving import duties on essential commodities and making significant investments in procuring antiretroviral medicines, to resolve the issue of co-financing.
World AIDS Day is observed annually to reflect on the impact of HIV on millions of lives worldwide.
It provides an opportunity to assess progress in managing and controlling the epidemic, celebrate successes, identify challenges in service delivery, and renew commitments towards ending AIDS by 2030.
Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, said Ghana had made considerable progress in its national response to HIV, including maintaining a low prevalence rate of 1.5 percent as well as increased access to essential prevention, treatment, care, and support services.
“We are implementing the right policies, proven strategies, and standard models of care to help accelerate progress towards achieving the 95-95 targets and eventually attain epidemic control,” he said.
Dr. Atuahene acknowledged that despite Ghana’s progress in addressing HIV, the epidemic curve remained high with slow declines in new infections and AIDS-related deaths.
He attributed this to a low uptake of HIV services, with 35 percent of people living with HIV unaware of their status and 55 percent not on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
Dr. Atuahene emphasised that ART not only prevents disease progression but also lowers the viral load to undetectable levels, preventing transmission.
He urged the public to take advantage of free HIV testing and stressed the importance of unity and enhanced prevention efforts to achieve the 95-95-95 targets.
In attendance at the event were the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, the Deputy Chief of Mission from the US Embassy, traditional leaders, and the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress, among others.
The event featured an exhibition, community engagement activities, and the distribution of HIV awareness materials, condoms, and information on medical services. Additionally, HIV testing, blood pressure screenings, and other health services were provided to participants.
