Ghana: No Cure Yet for HIV ...GAC Urges Strict Adherence to Treatment
[Ghanaian Times] The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has reiterated that there is still no cure for HIV, urging persons diagnosed with the disease to remain on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to suppress the virus and live long with healthy lives.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has emphasized that there is currently no cure for HIV. They stressed the importance of adhering to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for those diagnosed with the disease to suppress the virus and live long, healthy lives. According to the GAC, only 57% of the estimated 337,435 people living with HIV in Ghana are currently on treatment.
Director-General Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong attributed this low treatment coverage to factors such as self-denial, stigma, discrimination, and discontinuation of treatment when people begin to feel healthy or turn to prayer and herbal remedies. He added that the use of ART (antiretroviral therapy) is crucial for preventing HIV-related deaths, having averted over 13,000 deaths in 2025 alone.
Dr Akanbong highlighted that modern HIV treatment has become more convenient, with some patients taking just one daily combination tablet, making adherence easier. He urged people living with HIV to treat ART as they would manage chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The GAC plans to make ARVs more accessible through designated pharmacies and other accredited facilities and expand access to HIV prevention interventions, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
They also aim to strengthen condom services to reduce new HIV infections. Dr Akanbong encouraged Ghanaians to regularly include HIV testing in their health checks and emphasized that even without symptoms, the virus cannot be cured. The Country Director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in Ghana, Dr Ekua Houphouet, stressed the significance of responsible media reporting in advancing Ghana's HIV response.
She noted that accurate reporting can encourage testing, promote health-seeking behavior, raise awareness of HIV prevention options, and support treatment adherence.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
