The Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Coordinator of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, has expressed concern over the high rate of new HIV infections among key populations in the Bono Region, particularly among men who have sex with men.
Speaking to the media in Sunyani, Mr Bambilla said HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in the region currently stands at 26 per cent, meaning that an estimated 26 out of every 100 people within that population are living with HIV.
He added that HIV prevalence among commercial sex workers in the region is six per cent, describing the figures as worrying and underscoring the need for intensified prevention efforts.
Mr Bambilla explained that both men who have sex with men and commercial sex workers remain at a higher risk of HIV infection. He said the Ghana AIDS Commission is distributing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to people at increased risk of exposure as part of efforts to reduce new infections.
According to him, PrEP is a highly effective medication that helps prevent HIV infection when taken as prescribed.
He also urged people living with HIV to adhere strictly to their antiretroviral treatment, noting that consistent use of the medication can suppress the virus to very low levels.
Mr Bambilla said Ghana has achieved 89 per cent viral suppression among people receiving treatment, adding that individuals with sustained viral suppression are far less likely to transmit the virus to others.
“The medication is working effectively, and we are using treatment as a form of prevention,” he said.
