About Nine People in Ashanti Region Contracted HIV Daily in 2024 – AIDS Commission

Data from the Ghana AIDS Commission shows that about nine people living in the Ashanti Region contracted HIV each day in 2024.

This figure resulted in a cumulative of 2,997 new infections, bringing the total cases in the region to 63,159.

“This means that every day about 9 people were infected with HIV,” Olivia Graham, Ashanti Regional Ghana AIDS Commission Technical Coordinator, revealed on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantannanso with Commander Kofi Boachie.

Of the total, Olivia Graham said 42,240 were women, and 17,461 were men.

In a breakdown of the 2,997 new infections, she said 4,732 (30.19%) were aged between 15-24 years, while 1,823 were aged between 10-19 years.

Explaining the higher prevalence of the infection in women, she said that the female reproductive system makes them more susceptible to the virus than men.

In addition, she said women often undergo testing compared to men.

Nationally, she said 334,721 Ghanaians were living with the disease by the end of 2024, 68.5% of whom were women and 31.5% men.

Meanwhile, new cases that were recorded in the country last year were 15,290 .

The year 2024, she said, witnessed 12,614 deaths as a result of AIDS.

Olivia stressed that HIV is spread less by sex workers, as they contribute to only 4.7%.

“Prevalence in sex workers has reduced over the years. A study of new infections showed that sex workers were very low. Those who contributed more were those categorised as low risk, such as married couples or those cohabiting. They contributed to 30%. Casual heterosexuals contribute massively too.”

Story by Hajara Fuseini

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/