The Ghana AIDS Control Commission has reported that over 1,000 new HIV infections were recorded in the Western Region in 2024, Dr. Felicia Amihere, the Western Regional HIV Coordinator, has revealed.
Dr. Amihere explained that 80% of the infections were transmitted through sexual contact, 15% from mother-to-child transmission, and 5% through the use of sharp objects, such as needles.
Speaking to the media in Huni-Valley, she urged the public to take precautions against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), noting that most new infections were linked to sexual activity. She emphasized the “ABC” prevention approach: A for abstinence, B for being faithful to one partner, and C for the correct and consistent use of condoms. She added that if everyone abstained from sex for a year, HIV infections could potentially be reduced by up to 80%.
Dr. Amihere highlighted the role of modern sexual practices, including the use of mobile apps to arrange sexual encounters and the misuse of emergency contraceptives, as factors preventing a reduction in HIV cases across the country.
She noted that HIV first appeared in Ghana in 1986, and while the number of cases should have declined, infections continue to rise. She pointed out that economic activities, particularly mining, have contributed to higher infection rates in districts such as Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley, as well as Wassa Amenfi Central, East, and West, where HIV prevalence was previously low.
Dr. Amihere stressed that HIV is a real medical condition and not spiritual. She encouraged those who test positive to adhere strictly to treatment and avoid unverified medications that claim to cure HIV/AIDS, warning that abandoning proper treatment can lead to progression to AIDS and potentially death.
“Currently, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Those who switch to unapproved medications risk advancing to AIDS, sometimes with fatal consequences,” she cautioned.
