Executive Director of the Sexual Health and Rights Advocacy Network and HIV nurse, Emmanuel Yeboah Asomah, has called for increased investment in HIV education, testing and treatment, warning that stigma and discrimination continue to discourage people from seeking care.
Speaking on Globe TV’s News Lens on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Asomah acknowledged Ghana’s progress in HIV awareness, testing and access to antiretroviral treatment but cautioned against complacency.
He said the nearly 14,000 new infections recorded in 2025 remained a major concern despite the decline from the previous year.
“We should not celebrate too early, because almost 14,000 new infections in one year is still a serious concern,” he said.
Asomah called for comprehensive HIV education in schools and communities, alongside improved access to prevention, testing and treatment services.
He identified stigma and fear of discrimination as major barriers, explaining that some people avoid testing or delay seeking treatment because they fear how they may be treated by others.
He stressed that HIV prevention and treatment services must be accessible to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.
“We must ensure that, regardless of our sexual orientation, these people have access to condoms, treatment and also the education that we need, and we should avoid discrimination,” he said.
He also raised concerns about limited public awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), two HIV prevention options, urging health authorities to intensify education to ensure people know when and how to access them.
On treatment access, Asomah proposed exploring more convenient ways for patients to collect their antiretroviral medication, including through nearby pharmacies. He said improved medication delivery systems and support for treatment adherence were essential to sustaining progress.
“We have to do more as a nation, invest more in the treatment, diagnosing and education in HIV,” he said.
He further called for targeted HIV testing programmes for men and young people, noting that antenatal care provides women with more routine opportunities to test during pregnancy.
Asomah urged the Ghana AIDS Commission to expand its use of social media platforms, particularly TikTok and Facebook, to reach young audiences with accurate HIV information.
He also called for renewed school-based awareness campaigns, recalling that such outreach activities were more visible during his student years.
He said government, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders must work together to strengthen Ghana’s HIV response and achieve the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
His recommendations include increased testing, comprehensive HIV education in schools, accessible condoms, non-discriminatory healthcare and consistent access to antiretroviral medication.
His comments follow figures from the Ghana AIDS Commission showing that new HIV infections declined from 16,189 in 2024 to 13,951 in 2025. AIDS-related deaths also fell from 13,429 to 12,051 over the same period, representing a decline of about 10 per cent.
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