By Jones Anlimah
Under a global framework, countries are expected to ensure that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are placed on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Ghana has committed to meeting these targets to end AIDS as a public health threat by the end of the decade.
In that quest to reduce HIV prevalence, the Volta Region is making steady progress. Authorities at the Ghana AIDS Commission say the latest National HIV Estimates for 2024 place the Volta Region eighth out of the country’s sixteen regions, with an HIV prevalence rate of 1.58% among adults aged 15 to 49. This translates to about two in every hundred adults living with HIV in the region.
While prevalence among the general population remains relatively low, data shows a significantly higher burden among key populations. HIV prevalence among female sex workers stands at about 4.3%, while prevalence among men who have sex with men is estimated at 29%.
“When you take the men who have sex with men, out of a hundred of them, twenty-nine are likely to be HIV positive in the region. Female sex workers also have a much higher prevalence rate compared to the general population,” said the Volta Regional Technical Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Mary Naa Ashley Anyomi.
Estimates are generated using a combination of demographic surveys, health sector data, and programmatic information to guide interventions. In 2024, the Volta Region recorded 809 new HIV infections, accounting for about five percent of Ghana’s total new cases, with women continuing to bear the greater burden.
“Already, HIV has a female face. 67% of the HIV population in the region are females,” Ms Anyomi said, describing what health officials refer to as the feminisation of the epidemic.
Several districts, including Ho, Hohoe, Ketu South, and North and South Tongu, contribute the majority of people living with HIV and new infections in the region. Authorities say improving treatment access remains a priority, as treatment also reduces transmission. Although viral suppression among people on treatment is relatively strong, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) coverage remains below target in most districts, with many recording less than 60%, far below the required 95%.
“We are focusing on treatment because treatment is a form of prevention. Once you’re on treatment, the probability of transmitting the virus to another person is greatly reduced. Because we have insufficient resources to implement HIV activities everywhere, we need to prioritise. And based upon the issues, we know exactly where to go to implement programmes,” Ms Anyomi explained.
To improve performance across the 95-95-95 indicators, the region has intensified public education and HIV testing at festivals, markets, and community events, while schools are being used as platforms to reach young people with accurate information.
Funding for HIV activities at the district level has also increased through the District Assembly Common Fund, allowing assemblies to scale up education and testing efforts. Despite progress, stigma and discrimination continue to hinder testing, disclosure, and treatment adherence.
“We still have issues of stigma and self-stigma, and that discourages people from testing and even accessing treatment,” Ms Anyomi noted.
