Low condom use among young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women, is significantly hindering efforts to curb HIV infections in the Volta Region, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has revealed.

Currently, 19,078 people are living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Volta Region, accounting for 5.7 per cent of the national total of 334,721 PLHIV.

This figure comprises 4,999 males aged 15 and above, 12,881 females aged 15 and above, and 1,198 children.

Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, Volta Regional Technical Coordinator of GAC, disclosed these statistics on Monday during the inauguration of the reconstituted Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in Ho. She noted that the region’s general population prevalence rate stands at 2.1 per cent, but this rises sharply to 4.3 per cent among female sex workers (FSW) and a concerning 28.1 per cent among men who have sex with men (MSM).

According to Mrs. Anyomi, the region recorded 809 new HIV cases, including 221 males over 15, 519 females over 15, and 69 children.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage varies across the region’s 18 districts, ranging from 38.4 per cent to 61.5 per cent.

The GAC Coordinator also highlighted a critical challenge: HIV intervention programmes in the region are entirely dependent on donor funding and lack widespread reach. She further stated that stigma and discrimination continue to be major barriers, discouraging individuals from getting tested, seeking treatment, and disclosing their status.

“There is a need to expand HIV testing services to ensure more people know their status and to implement community-based testing programmes to reach remote or marginalised populations,” Mrs. Anyomi emphasized. “Promoting condom use and ensuring its accessibility across the region is also crucial.”

The newly formed nine-member committee will be chaired by the Regional Minister, James Gunu. In a speech delivered on his behalf, Mr. Gunu affirmed the Volta Regional Coordinating Council’s commitment to supporting the GAC’s efforts to end AIDS by 2030.

“Together, we will work to ensure the municipalities and districts in the region have active and functional committees of the commission, and that all stakeholders play their respective roles,” he added.

Mr. Gunu urged committee members to approach their responsibilities with diligence, passion, and integrity. The committee also includes representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the Network of Associations of Persons Living with HIV, a Civil Society Organisation, the Ghana Education Service, the Volta Region House of Chiefs, and the GAC.

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