The President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, has stated that 80% of new HIV cases in Ghana are linked to sexual transmission, highlighting the need for increased focus on prevention strategies and awareness programs.
The disclosure reported by classfmonline.com, provides a critical data point for health officials and signals a need to re-evaluate current prevention strategies. While mother-to-child transmission and other routes like blood transfusions account for the remaining cases, the overwhelming dominance of sexual transmission highlights a troubling gap between public awareness and private behavior. Public health analysts suggest the nation is dealing with a behavioral epidemic at its core, where decades of knowledge about the virus have not consistently translated into the practice of safe sex, including inconsistent condom use and multiple concurrent partnerships.
The 80 percent figure is more than just a number; it serves as a roadmap for where resources and energy must be concentrated. Health advocates argue that the finding necessitates a renewed and aggressive focus on proven interventions. This includes a major push for broader access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a daily pill that prevents HIV, particularly for those in serodiscordant relationships. It also calls for a return to high-impact behavioral change communication that addresses the cultural and social norms driving transmission, alongside ensuring a consistent supply of both male and female condoms as the first line of defense. Furthermore, experts stress the need to encourage open communication and aggressively reduce the stigma that prevents individuals from disclosing their status to partners.
GHANET’s announcement serves as a powerful reminder that the fight against HIV in Ghana is far from over. With 80 percent of infections tied to the most fundamental human interaction, the path to ending the epidemic lies not only in medicine and clinics, but in the difficult, long-term work of changing hearts and minds on a national scale. The organization is expected to use this data to lobby the government and international partners for more robust and targeted funding for sexual health and awareness programs.
Source: GhanaWeb
