President of GHANET, Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, is calling on the government to put money into the National HIV and AIDS Fund which is currently empty.
He said Government support is crucial in this fight, stressing the need for domestic funding to tackle HIV/AIDS.
GHANET and its partners have made it a yearly ritual to campaign on New Year’s Day at the various beaches in Accra including the Laboma Beach.
Currently, an estimated 340,000 people are living with HIV in Ghana, with only about 200,000 aware of their status.
This means over 100,000 individuals are unknowingly carrying the virus. Alarmingly, a prevalence of about 1.5 to 1.7%, and approximately 15,000 to 18,000 new infections annually, disproportionately affecting women and young adults between the ages of 15 to 49 years.
The first week of a new year is typically marked by various activities, including church services, beach outings, and parties, to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one.
The festive season often leads to an increase in risky behaviors, which in turn results in new infections.
To address this, GHANET has intensified its awareness campaign in high-risk areas such as beaches, pubs, and nightclubs.
Through this initiative someone could be vigilant and protect themselves from the virus throughout the year, but one reckless action on New Year’s Eve in the name of having fun could lead to an HIV infection.
It is against this backdrop that GHANET is intensifying its awareness efforts and promoting self-testing to help curb the escalating numbers.
The network members went round the beaches to share condoms, and self-testing kits.
President of GHANET Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, said the fight against the disease is financially intensive hence replenishing the National HIV and AIDS Fund which is currently empty.
He cited that looking at the rate at which various global fund donors are withdrawing their funding, there is need to establish domestic funding.
