HIV Is on the Rise Because We Are Always Having Sex-Dr. Fred Poku

The Director of Technical Service at the Ghana AIDS Commission(GAC), Dr. Fred Nana Poku has stated that high rate of HIV in Ghana is as a result of frequent sexual intercourse by Ghanaians.

According to him, even though the GAC can not stop anybody from having sex with their partner, it was important for partners to protect themselves.

Dr. Nana Poku made the statement at a 2-Day National Media Training on HIV-related Human Rights Stigma and Discrimination held at Peduase-Eastern region under the auspices of GAC in collaboration with USAIDS, PEPFAR, Ghana Journalists Association and Send Ghana.

“HIV is on the rise because we are always having sex. So how do we stop our brothers and sisters from getting it[HIV)”, Dr. Poku emphasized.

“Even last night somebody had sex”, he added.

The current HIV prevalence rate in Ghana stands at 1.66%, a little improvement from the 2009 figure which stood at 2.9%.

But the Director of Technical Service at GAC, believes there was the urgent need to intensify the HIV response measures to conscientize Ghanaians since the 2023 figures are yet to be published.

He also stated that stigmatization and discrimination against persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) is on the rise, a situation he said as a challenge to the response effort of the GAC.

Dr. Poku therefore called on the media to support the GAC in its drive to make stigmatization and discrimination of PLHIV, a thing of the past.

On his part, the Organizing Secretary of the GJA, Mr. Dominic Hlordzi who took the media through “Reporting HIV Issues in the Media: the Dos and Don’ts” advised the media against sensationalism and conduct which infringes on the rights of Persons living with HIV.

He said the media is a powerful tool hence we should be guided by our write ups, publications and commentaries on issues of HIV to protect the dignity of PLHIV.

The Greater Accra Co-ordinator of GAC Ms. Rita Afriyie said HIV-related stigma and discrimination remains pervasive in Ghanaian societies.

She said this leads to isolation, reluctance of PLHIVs in seeking testing and treatment as well as accessing general health care services.

Ms. Afriyie, in this regard, appealed to the media to lead the path on issues of discrimination and stigma.

She also called on them to advocate for more people to test since the Anti Retroviral (ARV) medications are free.

Source:newsflashafrica