At least 12,614 AIDS-related deaths were recorded in 2024, the 2025 National and Sub-National HIV Estimates and Projections report launched in Accra on Thursday has revealed.The report, which outlines Ghana's HIV landscape for 2024, revealed that 334,721 people were currently living with HIV in the country where women continue to be disproportionately affected.It revealed that the women constitute 68.5 per cent (229,261) of the total number of people living with HIV, compared to 31.5 per cent (105,460) for men.The report gave the adult HIV prevalence (ages 15-49) of 1.49 per cent with women again bearing a heavier burden of new infections.Speaking at the 2024 National and Sub-National HIV and AIDS Estimates and Dissemination programme organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in Accra on Thursday, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending AIDS by 2030.She commended the Ghana AIDS Commission and development partners for their continuous efforts saying, "These figures serve as our scientific and strategic compass."They guide our prevention, treatment, care, and support interventions.
We must not overlook the sobering reality of 12,640 AIDS-related deaths in the past year, this should be a wake-up call."Government, she said, was working to close the funding gap left by USAID's withdrawal and revealed that only 47 of PLHIVs were on antiretroviral therapy (ART)-a gap that must be urgently addressed.In response to its continued leadership in the HIV response, she announced that Ghana would host the 2025 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) which would not only showcase Ghana's progress but also draw global partnerships and investment into our health system.The Acting Director General of the GAC, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, underscored the importance of accurate, reliable data in the fight against the epidemic.He stated that the estimates were not just numbers, but reflect the progress, challenges, and the country's collective commitment to fighting the epidemic.The GAC Acting DG commended the substantial gains Ghana has made in prevention, treatment, and care through the efforts of health workers, policymakers, civil society, and international partners.However, Dr Akanbong cautioned that vulnerable populations and certain regions continue to bear a disproportionate burden, stressing that "addressing these inequities must remain at the heart of our national response."He explained the use of mathematical modelling tools such as the AIDS Impact Module (AIM) in Spectrum and the Naomi model-developed with support from UNAIDS-to estimate new infections, treatment coverage, and AIDS-related deaths.These tools, he indicated, were crucial for tracking trends and aligning strategic planning with resource needs."It gives me great pleasure to announce that this year, our National Estimates Team was able to produce disaggregated HIV estimates for all 16 regions and 261 districts of Ghana," he said, describing it as a significant milestone. BY TIMES REPORTER
