AIDS Spread Looms! – As 170,000 HIV Adults Not On Treatment

Ghana is currently sitting on a ticking time bomb as it is emerging that 170,000 adults living with the AIDS virus are not on treatment.

The situation according to the Ghana AIDS Commission would be a major setback in achieving the 90-90-90 target aimed at ending the spread of HIV by 2020.

This number accounts for more than 50% of the number of people living with HIV in the country, the Acting Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kyeremeh Atuahene stated.

Speaking at a conference to mark World AIDS Day, Mr Atuahene warned Ghanaians of a possible epidemic without active social mobilisation and community participation.

“HIV antiretroviral medicines not only prevents disease progression but also suppress the viral load to an undetectable level,” he stated.

The 90-90-90 target initiated by the UNAIDS is a treatment target to help end the AIDS epidemic

By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.

However, Mr Atuahene believes Ghana’s efforts in achieving the target is being stalled due to the huge numbers of victims living without the antiretroviral drugs.

“Refusal to accept and adhere to antiretroviral therapy of such significant proportion of the HIV population in Ghana is negatively impacting our efforts of achieving the 90-90-90 target by 2020, Ghana is one of the country’s that are unlikely to achieve the target,” he added.

As Ghana joins the rest of the world to Celebrate World AIDS Day, the Ghana AIDS Commission called against stigma and compliance to the treatment.