People living with HIV in Ghana still face stigma that stops many from seeking testing and treatment, the Ghana AIDS Commission has warned.
Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, the Director-General of the Commission, said false beliefs that HIV infection means a person is promiscuous continue to shape how people with the virus are treated. He spoke on Konsulting Room 5 on JoyNews, pointing out that such views harm efforts to control HIV in the country.
“It is society’s perception of how HIV is contracted that makes people begin to look at you as promiscuous. It is that kind of societal perception that you must be a bad person to have HIV,” Dr Akanbong said. He stressed that HIV can be transmitted in different ways, including sexual contact and sharing needles or other equipment contaminated with infected blood.
He added that even when HIV is passed sexually, it should not be used to judge a person’s character. “Even very good people also have sex,” he said. “Sexual activity should not automatically be equated with promiscuity.”
This stigma creates a barrier to accessing prevention and treatment services. Dr Akanbong explained that some young people avoid buying condoms because they are afraid of being judged by others. “That is a kind of stigma that makes people stay away, even from the services that are supposed to prevent the disease,” he said.
The fear of judgment also leads some people living with HIV to hide their status and delay seeking medical care or support. Dr Akanbong said some turn first to religious leaders, feeling uncomfortable revealing their status to health workers or others. This can have serious health consequences. “Before they actually take the step to come to medical treatment, the disease has consumed much of their strength and effort,” he said.
The Ghana AIDS Commission has repeatedly identified stigma and discrimination as major challenges in the country’s HIV response. Misconceptions about the virus continue to affect people’s willingness to seek prevention, testing, and treatment.
Dr Akanbong called for a change in public attitudes toward HIV. He said people living with the virus should not be socially excluded because of their status. Reducing stigma and discrimination matters not just to protect their dignity but also to encourage more people to use services that prevent new infections and support those already living with HIV.
According to Joy Online.
