The Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) has asked for more advocacy, community engagements and public awareness programs from relevant stakeholders and bodies as the city prepares to observe the 2023 World AIDS Day.

This year’s theme for World AIDS Day: “ Remember and Commit”, would highlight the global struggles to end HIV-related stigma, serve as an opportunity to honour the dead, and rally the cry to commit to working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat.

This year the day would coincide with the farmers’ day celebration, however, the AMA is expected to observe the day on 31st November 2023 instead of 1st December 2023 to ensure its full impact.

HIV Ambassador and a member of the AMA HIV committee, Rev John Azumah said educating residents was the only strategy assured to control the spread of the virus in the metropolis.

He said the rate at which the virus was spreading in the senior high and tertiary institutions was alarming therefore he appealed to the education minister, Hon Edusei Twum to guarantee support in a safe and conducive space where the symptoms of the virus could be treated to ensure sustenance.

“More young adolescent boys and girls have HIV and are being admitted into our secondary and tertiary schools. We call on our education minister that we want to make this strong appeal that more of the children who are entering into the senior high schools are HIV positive and are not finding a conducive environment to take their anti-retroviral” he noted.

He attributed the upward rise in HIV/AIDS recorded cases to ignorance on the part of residents, economic hardships and unemployment in the metropolis.

He said to reduce the spread, stakeholders needed to organize frequent sensitization programs as well as empower residents with the needed skills and logistics to prevent them from engaging in activities that would expose them to the virus.

Technical Coordinator for Greater Accra/ Technical support unit/ member of the AMA committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Rita Afriyie stated that 95 95 95 innovative strategies were being implemented to identify persons living with the virus without knowledge of it, put them on medication and achieve epidemic control.

According to her, Ghana signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) so by 2030 it should achieve total epidemic control.

She pointed out that the introduction of the HIV self-testing test kit was a game changer as it has now given victims more convenience, confidence and privacy to check their status.

She encouraged residents to “know their status” as a preventive strategy to control the virus by utilizing the self-testing kits in the confines of their homes.

The first World AIDS Day took place in 1988, providing a platform to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and honour the lives affected by the epidemic. This year marks the 35th commemoration of this important day. Over the past 35 years, there has been significant progress in addressing HIV and AIDS thanks to advancements in medical research, increased access to treatment and prevention, and a broader understanding of the virus.