Shun risky sexual behaviour — NACP cautions youth

Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager, National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) has appealed to the public to shun risky sexual behaviour and urged all to be bold in knowing their HIV status noting that, being aware of one’s status is key to decision-making for positive living with or without HIV.

Dr. Ayisi Addo made the appeal at the pre-launch event of a pragmatic national campaign focusing on HIV Self-Test (HIVST) kits at the Ghana News Agency Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue Platform, which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.

He expressed concern that about 1,422 children in Ghana tested positive for HIV by the third quarter of this year -January to September 2022 out of which a total of 693 were boys while 729 were girls.

The regional data breakdown indicates that 279 were recorded in Ashanti Region; 237 cases in Greater Accra Region; 232 in Eastern Region; 118 in Bono Region; 96 cases in the Volta Region; 93 cases were recorded in Central Region; and 68 cases in Bono East Region.

The other statistics are 62 cases in Western North; 47 positive cases were recorded in Ahafo Region; 42 cases were in Upper West Region; 41 cases were recorded in the Northern Region; 33 cases were recorded in Oti Region; 30 in Western Region; and 20 cases in Upper East Region; 13 cases in Savannah Region; and eleven for North East Region.

The HIV Self-Test Kits pack contains an instruction manual for use written in both English and Twi, a test device, a preservative, a developer vial, and a test stand. The instruction manual also has simply eleven steps to follow with graphic pictures to guide the individual to self-administer without the help of any other person.

He added that the HIV self-test kits had been made available in some designated hospitals and pharmacies and would be scaled up to ensure easy accessibility, convenience, and confidential use by the general public.

He said it would significantly improve HIV testing services towards universal health coverage.

Dr. Ayisi Addo, demonstrated the use of the HIVST kits to the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Team and invited them to champion the Advocacy for its use ahead of the national launch and campaign in the year ahead-2023.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager lauded the efforts by NACP and other stakeholders for the initiative and called on the media to join the advocacy to achieve maximum impact through demystifying the myth surrounding HIV testing

He said there is an urgent need to invoke an attitudinal change crusade through the encouragement and challenging people to know their status.

Mr. Ameyibor noted that knowledge about your HIV status would ensure a healthy lives style whether positive or negative, “one must live with a sense of responsibility.

“Persons whose test results are negative should receive counseling to enable them to remain free of HIV, while those who tested positive must be encouraged to seek for treatment as the Ghana Health Service provides treatment to persons living with HIV by offering them free Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs”.