Data from the 2023 national and sub-national HIV and AIDS estimates and projections showed that 17,774 individuals were newly infected with HIV that year, including 6,457 men and 11,317 women.
This number includes 4,869 young people aged 15 to 24, 1,698 children under 15, 1,520 adolescents aged 10 to 19, and 16,076 adults over 15.
This data was revealed in Accra on Wednesday by Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission.
According to him, the forecast indicates a 14.8% decrease in new infections between 2013 and 2023, stating that Ghana did not meet its annual target of reducing new HIV infections by 17% over the past decade.
He also mentioned that Ghana should achieve a 41% reduction in new HIV infections between 2023 and 2030.
In 2023, it is estimated that 334,095 individuals in Ghana, including 115,891 men and 218,204 women, were living with HIV.
The previous year, HIV was present in 17,550 children under 14, 16,381 adolescents aged 10 to 19, 33,245 young adults aged 15 to 24, and 316,545 adults aged 15 and over.
The HIV-positive population increased by 9% between 2013 and 2023 and is expected to grow by 6.8% by 2030.
Furthermore, it is projected that 12,480 Ghanaians will die from an AIDS-related illness in 2023.
According to Dr. Atuahene, despite the availability of treatments that prevent the progression of the disease and the deaths it causes, AIDS-related mortality continues, which should not be the case.
He reiterated his commitment to achieving the 95-95-95 targets by 2025, which means that 95% of individuals living with HIV will be aware of their status, 95% of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) will achieve viral suppression, and 95% of people on ART will know their status. Ghana achieved 65.3% of the first target in 2023, 69.4% of the second, and 89% of the third.
In the country, most individuals infected or living with HIV are aged 15 to 49 and are part of the economically active population. Dr. Atuahene emphasized the paramount importance of ending the AIDS epidemic in Ghana for everyone.
Source: Ghana News Agency
