Accra: The Ghana HIV/AIDS Network (GHANET) has raised concerns over Ghana’s capability to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, following the United States Government’s suspension of USAID funding. Early this year, the Trump-led administration halted USAID funding on a global scale, affecting numerous projects, particularly within the health sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, during an Easter HIV screening and sensitization event at La Pleasure Beach in Accra, Mr. Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, President of GHANET, described the suspension as a significant setback to achieving the target. He emphasized that Ghana was already struggling to meet its targets due to dwindling donor support and insufficient government funding over recent years.
Mr. Ortsin highlighted the challenge of meeting the UNAIDS global target, which aims for 95 percent of people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 95 percent of those diagnosed to receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those receiving ART to achieve viral suppression by 2025. Currently, only 65 percent of people living with HIV in Ghana are aware of their status, 69 percent of these individuals are on treatment, and 89 percent have achieved viral suppression.
He urged the government to allocate more resources to the sector, as outlined in the 2025 Budget, to address the funding gap created by the USAID suspension. Additionally, he called for the activation of the National HIV/AIDS Fund, established nearly a decade ago, to complement other funding sources.
The HIV screening exercise screened approximately 500 people for the virus, and over 100,000 condoms were distributed to attendees as part of the initiative. Mr. Ortsin encouraged Ghanaians to undergo regular testing to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, warning that the disease remains a significant threat. In 2024 alone, more than 35,000 individuals were diagnosed with the virus for the first time.
Madam Bernice Ababio, Administrative Manager for GHANET, identified stigma as a major challenge in combating the virus. She noted that misconceptions surrounding HIV lead some individuals to disregard safety measures, including testing. To address these issues, Madam Ababio called for intensified public education to raise awareness and dispel myths about the disease.
