The Deputy Commissioner of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Derrick Oppong-Agyei, has revealed that about 11 per cent of young people in Ghana between the ages of 15 and 19 are living with HIV, raising concerns about the growing spread of the virus among the country’s youth.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Ghana Nie flagship programme hosted by Nana Yaw Fianko, Mr. Oppong-Agyei said the situation highlights the urgent need for increased education on HIV prevention among children and teenagers. He urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to discuss the dangers of HIV with young people before they become sexually active.
He noted that HIV continues to claim lives in Ghana, with an average of 34 people dying from AIDS-related illnesses every day. According to him, the Greater Accra Region has the highest number of people living with HIV, followed by the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Oppong-Agyei explained that HIV transmission rates differ between men and women. He said a man living with the virus can infect about three out of every ten women he has unprotected sex with, while a woman with HIV can transmit the virus to about one out of every ten men she has unprotected sex with.
The Deputy Commissioner also highlighted funding challenges facing the Ghana AIDS Commission. He said the Commission requires about GH¢1.5 million to intensify nationwide public education campaigns but has struggled to carry out planned sensitization programmes over the past two years because of budget constraints.
He further disclosed that about 45 per cent of condoms distributed in Ghana were previously donated through USAID support, which has since stopped due to issues related to port taxes. Mr. Oppong-Agyei appealed to the government and development partners to increase support for HIV prevention and awareness programmes across the country.
Watch Video here:11% of Ghanaian Youth Aged 15-19 Living with HIV – AIDS Commission
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com