Rising Cases of HIV Threat to Ghana's Future– Dr Sandaare Warns Parliament

The Member of Parliament (MP)for Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, Dr. Sebastian N. Sandaare, has raised alarm over the rising prevalence of HIV among Ghana’s youth, describing the trend as a serious threat to the country’s human capital and long-term national development.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, Dr. Sandaare said the recent revelation by the Minister for the Interior that 1,300 applicants who participated in the latest security services recruitment exercise tested positive for HIV should serve as a national wake-up call rather than being viewed as an isolated recruitment issue.

“We must not see this simply as a recruitment issue but as a national development challenge that requires urgent and coordinated action,” he stressed.

According to the MP, the disclosure reinforces concerns contained in the Ghana AIDS Commission’s 2024 National HIV Estimates, which indicate that 334,721 Ghanaians are currently living with HIV, including 37,283 young people aged between 15 and 24 years.

He noted that Ghana recorded 15,290 new HIV infections in 2024, averaging 42 new infections every day, with 4,732 of those infections occurring among young people in the 15 to 24 age bracket—the highest of any age group in the country.

Dr. Sandaare expressed particular concern over the disproportionate impact of HIV on women and girls, revealing that nearly 69 percent of all people living with HIV in Ghana are women, while women account for about 67 percent of all new infections.

He warned that the trend poses serious risks to gender equality, maternal health and Ghana’s socio-economic development.

The legislator further cited findings from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, which show that only 36 percent of young women and 37 percent of young men aged 15 to 24 have comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention.

Condom use among young women who had non-marital sexual partners stood at just 14 percent, compared with 28 percent among their male counterparts.

Dr. Sandaare attributed the increasing infection rate among young people to declining investment in sustained HIV education and awareness campaigns over the past decade.

He also identified poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners and limited access to youth-friendly health services as major drivers of new infections.

“HIV is not merely a health issue; it is a development challenge,” he told Parliament.

He explained that the epidemic continues to reduce productivity, increase healthcare costs and slow economic growth, noting that Ghana recorded 12,614 AIDS-related deaths in 2024, including about 840 deaths among young people aged 15 to 24 years.

“These are lives lost during the most productive years of our nation’s development,” he lamented.

Beyond the health implications, Dr. Sandaare said the epidemic is placing enormous pressure on Ghana’s healthcare system through the cost of testing, treatment and long-term care.

It is also disrupting education as many affected young people face stigma, absenteeism and school dropouts, while families struggle with rising medical expenses and declining incomes.

He warned that the situation threatens Ghana’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being and Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth.

While commending the Government, the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and development partners for expanding access to HIV treatment and prevention services, the MP insisted that current trends require renewed national action.

He urged the government to fully operationalise the National HIV and AIDS Fund established under Act 938 of 2016, intensify nationwide HIV education campaigns in schools, tertiary institutions and communities, and provide sustained funding for prevention programmes in collaboration with religious bodies, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and youth groups to combat stigma and misinformation.

Dr. Sandaare also called on Parliament’s Health Committee to engage the Ministry of Health and the Ghana AIDS Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions and ensure Ghana remains on course to ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

The MP underscored the importance of protecting Ghana’s youth, describing them as the nation’s greatest asset.

“Every HIV infection prevented preserves a future teacher, doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, farmer, security officer or public servant.

By investing in prevention, education, early testing and treatment today, we are investing in a healthier, more productive and more prosperous Ghana,” he said.

Source: Felix NYAABA/expressnewsghana.com