Reports that an estimated 33 million people worldwide were living with HIV as of 2007, makes the disease one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Signals that AIDS is still a killer and more than 25 million people have died of the disease between 1981 and last year is heart-rending. Since the first cases of AIDS were reported in 1981, infection with HIV has grown to pandemic proportions resulting in an estimated 65 million infections.
In Ghana, even though the pandemic is said to have stabilized, the country is still not out of the danger zone. There was an estimated 350 thousand people living with HIV in Ghana as at the end of 2003. The percentage of people living with the disease in Ghana is relatively low as compared to other countries in the sub-Saharan region.
The disease nevertheless, poses a challenge to both prevention and treatment efforts. Women account for more than half of adults estimated to be living with HIV in Ghana and this is disturbing. People between the ages of 25 to 34 are the hardest hit. Segments of the populations thought to be at risk include sex workers, transport operators, prisoners, sexual partners of people living with HIV and men who have sex with men and their female sexual partners.
HIV prevalence in Ghana is highest in the Eastern Region and lowest in the three regions in the North. HIV can spread from person to person during anal, vaginal or less commonly during oral sex. It can also be spread while sharing needles or reusing equipment to inject drugs, tattoo or pierce the body. HIV can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, child birth or breast feeding.
Over time, HIV attacks and weakens the immune system making infected persons vulnerable to a variety of infections and some cancers. What makes this year’s celebration of World AIDS Day significant is that it marks the 20th anniversary. World AIDS Day was observed in 1988 after a summit of health Ministers from around the world which called for a spirit of social tolerance and a greater exchange of information on the disease. HIV is still a challenge worldwide especially Ghana due to stigmatization. People with the disease are discriminated against by society including relatives and friends. The fear of stigmatization leads to death. It suppresses public discussion on the disease and deters people form finding out whether they are infected.
To curb the HIV spread there is need for conscious effort to discourage the trade in cocaine and other hard drugs. Programmes must be intensified to provide comprehensive prevention care and services including voluntary counseling and testing, prevention of mother to child transmission as well as tuberculosis and palliative care to promote the adoption of safer sexual behaviours.
Services for those infected, their partners and families must be intensified. We must assist individuals, families and communities as they manage the physical, economic, social emotional effects of the disease. Comprehensive programmes are needed to reach all persons who require treatment and to prevent transmission of new infections. Anti-retrovirals must be absolutely free to enable more sufferers to gain access.
The Centre for Traditional Medicines at Mampong-Akwapim must make its research into herbal medicines for the treatment of HIV more open. Casual sex must be discouraged and education on HIV intensified to help raise awareness. As the next Century approaches, nothing will be more pressing than the urge to win the fight against HIV and AIDS. This calls for concerted efforts to tackle the challenge head-on.
