The Ashanti Region and the Greater Accra Region each have over 70,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, posing a hazard to locals due to persistent stigma.
Nathaniel Oduro, Executive Director of ProActif Global, said this. He thinks that stakeholders need to increase their advocacy on HIV/AIDS and associated stigma.
He observes that stigmatisation acts as a disincentive for those with the sickness to withdraw and refuse treatment.
However, Mr Oduro is urging locals to pay attention to their sexual partners in order to avoid contracting the disease.
"Let's take the Ashanti region, for example. According to the 2020 data released in Ashanti Region by the AIDS Commission, we have just over 73,245 people living with HIV/AIDS, I mean (73,245), and if these people decide not to seek treatment again due to the stigma the viral load will go up."
"Persons living with HIV in those days were seen as weak, slim and very sick but today it’s not like that. HIV no dey show face, you can’t just look at somebody because he is looking good and say he does not have AIDS, there is medication now, and you will see a beautiful lady looking good and when you have unprotected sex there could be trouble".
"Sexual connections of any type require prudence. I'll be pleading with us all to take care of ourselves, especially the young people who are reckless with their sexual lives, he said.
"We must combat AIDS stigma because it is harmful and, if left unchecked, could drive people who are HIV-positive and living with AIDS into hiding, which might speed up the spread of the illness. He cautioned that when people hide, they might not take medication but instead might be sleeping around and the illnesses might be worse.
