New HIV infections are spreading rapidly in the Berekum Municipality of the Bono Region, which has recorded the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rate in the country at 3.34%. This alarming statistic, revealed by Mark Kyeremeh Oppong, Bono Regional Technical Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), was based on the findings of the 2023 HIV and AIDS Sentinel Survey conducted by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).
Oppong expressed deep concern over the rising prevalence in the region and called for immediate intervention. “The figures are disturbing, especially for a region that has been grappling with high rates of HIV infection for three consecutive years,” he said, adding that the increasing spread of the virus in the region necessitated urgent research to understand the root causes.
In his remarks, Oppong emphasized the importance of safe sexual practices to curb the spread of HIV. He urged sexually active young people, especially, to abstain from premarital sex and avoid multiple sexual partners. He also advised those who could not control their sexual desires to practice protected sex to safeguard themselves and their partners from the virus.
Oppong made these statements at the launch of the Miss Elegance Tertiary Ghana 2025 beauty pageant, an initiative of the Reproductive Needs and Fitness (RENEF) Foundation, a health-focused Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). The foundation, which advocates for reproductive health and gender equality, is using the 2025 pageant as a platform to promote HIV testing among tertiary students and raise awareness about the rising cases of HIV infections in the region.
Abigail Antwi-Baafi, CEO of RENEF, explained that the pageant serves as a creative campaign to encourage young people, particularly students, to voluntarily check their HIV status. “Through entertainment, we aim to tackle health and social needs,” Antwi-Baafi said. She noted that the pageant would support the 95-95-95 agenda of the Ghana AIDS Commission, which aims to ensure that:
-
95% of people living with HIV know their status.
-
95% of those diagnosed with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
-
95% of those on ART achieve viral suppression.
As part of the broader campaign, the foundation will distribute free condoms to encourage safe sexual practices and prevent further HIV infections. The initiative will involve all 12 tertiary institutions, including Technical Universities and Colleges of Education, in the region.
The rise in HIV prevalence in Bono Region is particularly worrying given the significant increase in infections. The region’s high rates of HIV and AIDS infection, which have been persistent over recent years, underline the need for a comprehensive response that includes education, prevention, and treatment.
By engaging tertiary students through the beauty pageant, RENEF hopes to amplify awareness of HIV testing and safe sexual practices among young people, while also supporting national efforts to control the spread of HIV.
With the Miss Elegance Tertiary Ghana 2025 beauty pageant providing a platform for education and awareness, stakeholders are hopeful that the initiative will significantly contribute to reducing the rising HIV cases in the Bono Region and beyond. Ensuring that young people take responsibility for their sexual health and understand the importance of regular HIV testing is key to tackling the region’s HIV crisis.
Source: Thepressradio.com
