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The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has expressed worry over the declining use of condoms among young people. Mr. Isaiah Doe Kwao, Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at GAC, said the situation was alarming and will undermine the fight against HIV. He stated that while condoms remain widely available, the youth of today are engaging in unprotected sex, disregarding the risk associated with their actions. According to him, some young people prefer “going raw” and believe HIV is no longer deadly. ”Even though we have condoms in this country, it appears the youth of today are not using them as we would want,” he said at the 14th National Partnership Forum on HIV and AIDS in Accra on Wednesday, October 22. ”Some say they prefer the natural feel. Others think HIV is no longer deadly because they no longer see people dying like before, so the fear factor is gone,” he noted. He explained that condoms remain one of the most effective tools for preventing HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancies. ”As much as possible, we continue to encourage them to reduce risky behaviours. Condom use is still key in preventing HIV and other infections. We advise them to either abstain, remain faithful to one partner, or use condoms consistently and correctly,” he said.”The youth are the future leaders of this country. We want them to stay safe, grow into healthy adults, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he added. New Strategic Plan and Funding Challenge Meanwhile, he announced that Ghana is developing a strategic plan (2026–2030) to guide interventions toward achieving the global 95-95-95 targets. He said the strategy will ensure that all persons living with HIV know their status, receive treatment, and achieve viral suppression. He also lamented that inadequate funding remains a major challenge following the withdrawal or reduction of support from donor partners and admonished the government to fill the gap. Mr. Kwao appealed to corporate Ghana to support the national HIV response through corporate social responsibility initiatives and contributions to the Ghana HIV and AIDS Fund. ”It is incumbent on the government of Ghana to fill in the gap so that we can implement the interventions we’ve laid out,” he said.”We have developed a short code, *9898#, where individuals can donate as little as one cedi to support HIV activities in the country,” he added. By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
