Accra: The Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) has called on the Government to swiftly disclose HIV test results to those affected by the recent security services recruitment exercise, emphasizing the importance of early treatment and prevention of the virus's transmission.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, President of GHANET, highlighted that withholding these results poses a significant public health concern. He stressed that early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for HIV prevention and control. "Withholding HIV test results from affected applicants is a significant public health concern because people can only access life-saving treatment and take steps to prevent further transmission if they know their status," Ortsin commented during an interview in Accra.
Mr. Ortsin's remarks followed a revelation by Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Minister for the Interior, who disclosed that approximately 1,300 applicants tested positive for HIV during medical screenings as part of the recruitment process. Out of around 100,000 applicants, these individuals have not been informed of their status due to concerns about the psychological impact of such diagnoses.
Mr. Ortsin noted that the number of positive cases reflects Ghana's national HIV prevalence rate, which stands at 1.49 percent. He explained that the affected age group, primarily between 18 and 35 years, represents a significant portion of HIV infections nationally. "Our national prevalence is 1.49 per cent, and if you look at about 105,000 people who were screened, the positivity rate of around 1.3 per cent aligns with the national data," he stated.
Additionally, Mr. Ortsin called for clarity on whether the positive cases were newly diagnosed or involved individuals already aware of their HIV status. He emphasized the importance of proper pre-test counselling and informed consent, stating, "Ideally, people should have gone through counselling before testing so they are prepared to receive the results."
The GHANET President urged the Ministry of the Interior to implement a confidential mechanism for notifying affected individuals of their results and assured them that effective treatment is available. "The good news is that treatment is available. Once people are put on treatment, they can recover their immunity and live very normal lives," he affirmed.
Mr. Ortsin encouraged those diagnosed with HIV to seek treatment promptly, as early initiation of antiretroviral therapy can improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of transmission to others.