Can prayer identify an HIV patient? – UG blasts Rev. Lawrence Tetteh over claim of high surge in cases on campus

According to the University, these allegations are unfounded.

“Management of the University of Ghana has noted with grave concern the recent public statements by Rev. Lawrence Tetteh regarding alleged HIV infections among students at the University.

“The University finds his remarks on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Thursday, October 24, 2024, insensitive and highly disappointing. His claims are totally unfounded and not supported by available data. It must be noted that:

“Public discussions around HIV/AIDS must be grounded in verified facts, not speculation.

“HIV status cannot be determined through counselling or prayer; scientific methods remain the only means for diagnosing infections. Statements made without data-backed evidence mislead the public and risk amplifying fear, stigma, and misinformation,” a press statement on October 25, 2024, said.

The University further criticised the man of God, claiming that given his standing in society, he should not make such comments without regard for privacy and dignity.

“Handling sensitive health information requires the highest ethical standards. Also, linking HIV prevalence to specific demographics or institutions, especially without evidence, leans toward sensationalism rather than meaningful health awareness.

“Such statements risk undermining the confidentiality of individuals who may have entrusted their health information in confidence. It is, therefore, disappointing that Rev. Tetteh, given his standing, would make such comments without regard for the privacy and dignity of those affected.

“The University of Ghana has implemented comprehensive health and wellness measures for the University community, including compulsory medical exams conducted by the University Health Services Directorate and confidential counselling through our Careers and Counselling Directorate for students.

“Our commitment to a transformative student experience ensures that health, privacy, and support services are top priorities on all our campuses,” the statement added.

Speaking on a panel discussion on GTV, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh was particularly worried about the rising number of HIV infections among students.

He indicated that the virus is spreading among students because of the high levels of promiscuity among them.

He added that the level of HIV infections at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, is astonishing.

“The number of boys and girls in Legon who are HIV positive, you would have the biggest shock of your life. This is sad, this is sad and I’m happy I’m saying this on national TV.

“Some of these young boys and young girls already on campus are living promiscuous lives and they have already contracted HIV/AIDS. These are people I have prayed for… and I’m not talking about 10 years, 5 years,” the pastor said.

He added, “It is sad. And if some of them tell you how they get into it, what is happening is that some of these girls go to the place and when they come back they also connect to the boys and girls there. So, a lot of people think that they are getting a boy, they are getting a girl then it (HIV) spreads.”

The Ghana AIDS Commission has expressed concern over the disturbing statistics of HIV/AIDS cases, as its 2023 National HIV Report revealed that an estimated 50 people are infected every day in Ghana.

According to a report by kasapafmonline.com, the commission’s report shows that more than 218,000 HIV-infected people do not know their status.

Additionally, more than 152,000 people living with HIV are on anti-retroviral therapy (ART medication) – 36,000 male adults, 109,000 female adults, and 5,000 children.

The more worrying situation, the report indicated, is the projection in the nation’s capital, Accra, which shows that persons between the ages of 15 and 49 who are economically active represent the bulk of infections.

Also, the National Adult HIV prevalence for 2023 is estimated at 1.53%, with the number of people living with HIV estimated at 334,095, which is made up of 316,545 adults (94.7%) and 17,550 children (5.3%).

The HIV incident rate among adults aged between 15 to 49 in 2023 is estimated at 0.09%, with 17,774 estimated new infections (90.4% adults and 9.6% children) and 12,480 AIDS deaths.