The Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) has advised Ghanaians to prioritise their health and well-being as the country joins the rest of the world to commemorate St. Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 14, 2025.
It, therefore, cautioned the public, particularly the youth, to avoid engaging in risky sexual behaviours to prevent being exposed to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The Network gave the advice in a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, signed by Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, its President, as part of its HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.
GHANET, with about three decades of experience in the fight against HIV and AIDS, said it was concerned about the continuous rise in HIV/AIDS infections despite years of interventions.
As of December 2023, the total estimated number of persons living with HIV in Ghana stood at 334,000.
Even more worrying was the fact that between January and September 2024, about 35,460 persons were diagnosed with HIV, GHANET said.
Even though the national HIV prevalence of 1.53 percent may seem low, the rate of new infections, especially in recent times, was quite alarming, the NGO said.
It, therefore, cautioned against risky sexual behaviours such as unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, sex parties, hookups, and substance abuse, which significantly increases vulnerability to HIV infection.
“In this season of romantic celebration, we wish to remind the youth, especially, not to allow the sweetness of love becloud their sense of sobriety and propriety,” the statement said.
“While acknowledging that love and intimacy are essential aspects of human connection, we believe they must be expressed with utmost responsibility and self-awareness.”
GHANET also stressed the need for safe sex practices through the consistent and correct use of condoms to reduce the risk of contracting the HIV virus.
In Ghana, 80 percent of all HIV cases are a result of unprotected sex, it said.
It advised the public to abstain from sex if conditions were not right, indicating that abstinence was the safest HIV prevention method.
With more than 100,000 persons currently living with HIV and unaware of their statuses, GHANET encouraged the public to test for the viruso
“For those who may be worried about privacy issues, they can opt for HIV Self Testing (HIVST) kits,” it advised.
“It’s a season of love, let’s spread love; not the virus!”
