Filed by: Benedicta Beyir/RadioMak
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) is stepping up efforts in the Upper West Region to increase HIV testing, strengthen treatment retention and achieve viral suppression as part of efforts to reduce new infections.
The interventions are part of efforts to ensure the region does not miss out on the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2030.
The Upper West Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Madam Abida Abu Ahmed, said the Commission was working closely with the Ghana Health Service, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen HIV prevention, testing and treatment interventions across the region.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Mak on September 9, 2026, Madam Abida said the Commission’s interventions include HIV testing, condom promotion, peer education and school alert programmes aimed at increasing awareness and preventing new infections, particularly among young people.
She said a major focus of the campaign was to ensure that more people knew their HIV status, explaining that individuals who test positive are immediately enrolled on treatment under the “Treat All” policy.
According to Madam Abida, the policy enables people living with HIV to begin treatment promptly to suppress the virus to very low levels in the body.
She explained that when a person achieves and maintains viral suppression, the risk of transmitting HIV to another person is significantly reduced.
Madam Abida said the Upper West Region was making encouraging progress in treatment retention and viral suppression, which form part of the UNAIDS 2030 targets.
She stressed that achieving and maintaining viral suppression was critical to reducing HIV transmission and preventing new infections in the region.
She, however, identified limited resources as one of the major challenges confronting efforts to scale up HIV prevention, testing and treatment programmes.
She appealed to the government and other stakeholders to support with adequate resources to enable the Commission to intensify its campaign towards achieving 2030 targets.
Madam Abida expressed appreciation to stakeholders, particularly the media, for their continued support in educating the public and raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing and treatment.
Addressing young people who may believe that HIV cannot affect them, Madam Abida urged them to take their sexual health seriously and avoid behaviours that increase their risk of HIV infection, particularly unprotected sex.
“HIV does not care about your beauty, education, family background or social status. It is linked to risky behaviour such as unprotected sex.” She stated, adding that “One wrong decision can change your whole life.”
She therefore encouraged young people to overcome fear and stigma surrounding HIV testing and take the bold step of knowing their status.
Madam Abida said knowing one’s status would enable individuals to take appropriate steps to protect their health and safeguard their future.
“We need to know our status, we need to treat, we need to protect, and we need to suppress,” she added.
The Regional Technical Coordinator also encouraged people who may feel uncomfortable visiting health facilities for HIV testing to consider using HIV self-test kits available in the region.
She said the kits offer individuals greater privacy and are easy to use, with results available within about 20 minutes or less.
She encouraged members of the public to take advantage of the testing options available and know their HIV status, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment could significantly improve health outcomes.
The Ghana AIDS Commission says continued collaboration among health institutions, civil society organisations, the media and communities will be essential to sustaining progress towards the 90-95 targets and ultimately reducing the impact of HIV in the Upper West Region.
Edited by: Hafiz Timbile Adams
