The nation’s fight against HIV has reached a critical juncture. While significant progress has been made in treatment and prevention, a troubling gap remains, one that threatens to undermine years of effort and investment.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has made it clear that there is still no cure for HIV.
Yet, despite the proven effectiveness of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), only 57 per cent of the estimated 337,435 persons living with HIV in the country are currently on treatment.
This is not merely a statistic; it is a stark reminder that far too many people are being left behind.
The reasons for this gap are as concerning as they are preventable. Self-denial, stigma and discrimination continue to discourage people from seeking and remaining on treatment.
Even more worrying is the tendency of some patients to discontinue medication once they begin to feel better, or to turn to unproven remedies, including herbal treatments and prayer, in the hope of a cure.
Such actions are dangerous. As the Director-General of the GAC, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, rightly pointed out, ART does not cure HIV, but it suppresses the virus to undetectable levels when taken consistently.
This allows people living with HIV to lead long, healthy and productive lives.
Indeed, more than 13,000 deaths were averted in 2025 alone due to ART, a powerful testament to its life-saving potential.
The message, therefore, must be clear and unequivocal: adherence to treatment is non-negotiable.
Encouragingly, advances in treatment have made adherence easier.
The availability of single daily combination tablets means that managing HIV is no longer as complex or burdensome as it once was.
As Dr Akanbong aptly compared, if patients with hypertension or diabetes can take daily medication to manage their conditions, there should be no hesitation for persons living with HIV to do the same.
However, improving treatment uptake goes beyond medication. It requires a sustained national effort to confront stigma head-on.
Discrimination whether in homes, workplaces or communities remains one of the biggest barriers to testing and treatment. Until this is addressed, many will continue to suffer in silence.
The GAC’s plan to make antiretroviral drugs available through designated pharmacies and accredited facilities is a step in the right direction.
By allowing patients to access medication more discreetly, it reduces one of the social pressures associated with treatment.
Equally important is the expansion of prevention strategies. Increasing access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and condoms will be crucial in reducing new infections.
Prevention and treatment must go hand in hand if Ghana is to make meaningful progress.
We also agree with the call for HIV testing to become a routine part of healthcare. Early detection remains one of the most effective tools in managing the disease and preventing its spread.
Ultimately, the fight against HIV is not solely a medical issue; it is a social one. It demands empathy, education and collective responsibility. Government, health institutions, civil society, the media and individuals all have a role to play.
There is, as Dr Akanbong emphasised, hope. Hope for long life, for good health and for dignity. But that hope rests on one critical condition that those living with HIV remain on treatment.
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