Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC)
Mr Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission says persons who are on anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment cannot spread HIV.
According to the DG, the ARV drug suppresses the potency of the virus so much that it becomes inactive.
Addressing the media via the Zoom social media platform last week to disseminate the results of the 2019 national and sub-national HIV AIDS estimates and projections, the D-G implored the public to voluntarily go for the HIV test since more than 142, 000 persons living with HIV do not know they are HIV positive because they have never tested.
Worryingly, the DG said more than 46, 000 Ghanaians who know they have HIV are not on live saving treatment or anti-retroviral drugs.
NATIONAL ESTIMATES:
The DG said that in 2019, the estimated number of People Living With HIV (PLHIV) stood at 342,307.
122, 321 males, he noted from a table were living with HIV forming a percentage of 36% of the national figure.
However, 219, 986 females had the virus forming 64% of the national figure.
Adults, that is 15 years and over accounted for 92 % of the national figure as 316,352 persons had HIV in this bracket group.
Meanwhile, children from a day old to 14 years who were living with HIV were 25, 955 forming a percentage rate of Eight(8).
STATISTICS:
A survey by the GAC names 20 districts in five regions that is Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and the Western regions have the highest number of persons living with HIV.
Ayawaso Central in the Greater Accra Region has the highest number of persons living with HIV (PLWHIV) as the figure stood at 23, 075.
SUMMARY:
Giving a summary of the engagement to the media, the DG said although new infections have reduced across the country by about 5% between 2015 and 2019, the annual average has remained more than 20, 000.
He noted the GAC wants to end the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
According to him, if allowed to continue, 200, 000 more newly infected Ghanaians will be added to the HIV population over the next 10 years.
What do you think about this piece? Share your comment in the comment thread and share the story using the social media buttons above. You may reach the editor on 0249579664. Thank you.
