Ghana joined the world yesterday, December 1, to commemorate World AIDS Day.
The echoes of stigma and silence that once shrouded the disease are gradually giving way to hope and resilience.
This year’s celebration was on the global theme: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”.
Ahead of the day, a UNAIDS press release indicated that “the 2025 funding crisis has thrown the AIDS response into turmoil with massive disruptions to HIV prevention and community-led services, particularly for the most vulnerable.
However, the new report by UNAIDS shows evidence that resilience, investment and innovation combined with global solidarity still offer a path to end AIDS”.
Clearly, the withdrawal of $78 million in United States Agency for International Development (USAID) health support has left a massive funding gap, hindering efforts to sustain national HIV and AIDS programmes.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has appealed to the government to step up efforts to restock antiretroviral drugs in the country since the current stock is expected to run out in May 2026 (See Centre Spread for story).
According to the Deputy Director in charge of Programmes at the GAC, Derick Oppong-Agyare, when the drugs run out of stock, the viral load suppression gains could relapse, which could trigger drug resistance and other metabolic factors.
Today, 40.8 million people are living with HIV worldwide, 1.3 million new infections occurred in 2024, 9.2 million people are still not accessing treatment, and approximately 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes in 2024.
In Ghana, 15,290 new HIV infections were recorded in 2024, with 4,987 males (32.6 per cent) and 10,303 females (67.4 per cent). There were 12,614 AIDS-related deaths in 2024, involving 5,445 males and 7,159 females.
The 15-49 age group is the most affected, accounting for the majority of new infections. Only 47 per cent of people living with HIV are currently on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), with 90 per cent of those on treatment achieving viral suppression.
Despite significant strides in reducing new infections and improving treatment access, the country still faces hurdles. Stigma and discrimination remain major obstacles, preventing many from seeking testing, treatment, and support.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that these figures show the need for increased awareness, testing and treatment to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.
There is a need to expand access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to high-risk groups, such as young women and marginalised communities.
We are hopeful that the new drug Lenacapavir (LEN) — a six-monthly injection recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for HIV prevention — will be affordable for people in low-and middle-income countries.
The promotion of condom use in the country has seen a decline in the recent past, and there is a need to enhance media campaigns and community outreach programmes to encourage safe sex practices.
Also, campaigns to reduce stigma and promote acceptance of people living with HIV are a must, since stigmatisation is still an issue.
As the WHO states, when communities join forces with health workers, policymakers and partners, new pathways to success emerge, built on trust, equity and shared purpose.
On treatment and care, considering that only 47 per cent of people living with HIV in the country are currently on ART and the current stock is expected to run out in May 2026, there is a need to quickly respond to the call by the GAC to restock ART and boost treatment adherence support.
The Daily Graphic calls for urgent action to address the funding shortfall and ensure continued access to life-saving treatment and prevention services.
We commend the government for directing the GAC and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to come up with a funding module for people living with HIV, who were not part of a normal or regular health care, to be taken care of when they present at the hospital.
We urge the government to increase allocation to HIV and AIDS programmes and mobilise private sector support to help the country to make progress towards achieving the global targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
As we mark World AIDS Day, we urge every Ghanaian to get tested, know their status and encourage others to do the same; speak out against stigma and discrimination and support those affected by the disease.
The Daily Graphic also acknowledges the tireless efforts of healthcare workers, activists and individuals living with HIV for their resilience and determination.
