The Ghana AIDS Commission has revealed that most people are contracting the HIV virus infection out of negligence and lack of will to protect themselves from the deadly disease.
According to the Commission, some pregnant women refuse to visit the hospital during their pregnancy period and as a result, the babies born are likely to be infested with the virus.
Speaking with Angel News’s Akua Birago Manu Bempah on World AIDS Day, James Appiah Ankrah, the Ashanti Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Ghana AIDS Commission said, even after people have tested positive for the virus, they still dispute their status and will not go for the antiretroviral drug.
Multiple sex partners and sex workers are also a higher contributing factor, he said.
But among all these factors, James Appiah Ankrah noted that unprotected sex, (sex without condom) is the most prevailing factor.
In a recent report by the Ghana AIDS Commission, a total of 72,429 people in the Ashanti Region are estimated to be living with HIV.
Out of this number, only 26,006 are currently on Anti-Retroviral (ARV) medication at health facilities, leaving a gap of 46,421 who cannot be accounted for in terms of antiretroviral uptake.
These individuals are either unaware of their status or have defaulted on ARV treatment.
Mr. James Appiah Ankrah advised the citizenry especially the youth, to protect themselves during sexual intercourse to help prevent the spread HIV/AIDS and other STDs.
