The Upper East Region is grappling with a worrying rise in HIV infections, with 7,549 residents currently living with the virus.
Out of this number, 345 are new infections, representing a regional prevalence rate of 0.85%.
The figures were disclosed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Donatus Akamugri Atanga, during the inauguration of the Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (ReCCOM). He described the statistics as a “wake-up call” for collective action.
Even more troubling, the Minister revealed that only 49.4% of affected persons are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. “These numbers reveal a significant gap that we must urgently address if we are to reach our targets and end AIDS as a public health concern by 2030,” he stated.
Mr. Atanga warned that urban centers in the region are witnessing a surge in new infections, fueled partly by misinformation from self-styled healers and anti-treatment advocates. He cautioned residents not to let complacency reverse the progress made in recent years.
The Minister also decried the persistent stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV, noting that such attitudes hinder early testing and treatment adherence. He called for stronger leadership, deeper media collaboration, and sustained community education to combat prejudice and promote behavior change.
“Only through compassion, inclusion, and accurate information can we close the treatment gap and make real progress in this fight,” Mr. Atanga affirmed, rallying stakeholders to renew their commitment to ending AIDS by 2030.