The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has expressed concern that poor condom usage among young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women, is undermining efforts to curb new HIV infections in the Volta Region.

According to the Commission, the region currently has 19,078 individuals living with HIV, accounting for 5.7 per cent of the estimated national total of 334,721 people affected by the virus.

This figure comprises 4,999 males aged 15 years and above, 12,881 females within the same age group, and 1,198 children.

The Volta Regional Technical Coordinator of GAC, Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, made this known on Monday at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly reconstituted Regional Committee of the Commission in Ho.

She revealed that the overall HIV prevalence among the general population in the region is 2.1 per cent. However, higher infection rates were recorded among key populations, with female sex workers registering 4.3 per cent and men who have sex with men recording as high as 28.1 per cent.

Mrs Anyomi further indicated that the region recorded 809 new HIV cases, consisting of 221 males aged 15 and above, 519 females in the same age category, and 69 children.

She noted that access to antiretroviral therapy across the region’s 18 districts varied, with coverage levels falling between 38.4 per cent and 61.5 per cent.

The Regional Technical Coordinator also disclosed that HIV-related interventions in the Volta Region depended entirely on donor support and were limited in reach. Additionally, she said negative attitudes and social exclusion faced by people living with HIV continued to hinder testing, treatment uptake, and openness about one’s status.

Looking ahead, Mrs Anyomi stressed the importance of widening access to HIV testing to enable more individuals to know their status. She also advocated for community-led testing initiatives to serve hard-to-reach and vulnerable groups.

She further underscored the need to intensify education on condom use and ensure their availability throughout the region.

The newly formed nine-member Regional Committee is chaired by the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu.

In remarks delivered on his behalf, Mr Gunu reaffirmed the Volta Regional Coordinating Council’s commitment to supporting GAC’s objective of eliminating AIDS by the year 2030.

He stated that collaborative efforts would be strengthened to ensure all districts and municipalities in the region establish functional GAC committees and that relevant partners fulfil their responsibilities.

Mr Gunu also called on committee members to carry out their mandate with commitment, enthusiasm, and honesty.

The committee is made up of representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the Network of Associations of Persons Living with HIV, a civil society organisation, the Ghana Education Service, the Volta Region House of Chiefs, and the Ghana AIDS Commission.