<\/p>\n
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has disclosed that illegal mining is a major factor in the increase of HIV\/AIDS infections in the country.<\/p>\n
The commission claims that illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey have propelled a lot of indiscriminate sex activities, which in the long run increases the number of HIV\/AIDS in the country.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a ceremony to mark World AIDS day in Accra, Director-General of the GAC, Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene indicated that his outfit in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders in the mining sector has taken steps to address the canker.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe galamsey menace can substantially contribute to the new infections and further undermine progress towards achieving the elimination agenda. A recent study that assessed the impact of national resource extraction projects on HIV transmission risks in local communities in sub-Saharan countries, including Ghana, reports that mine openings increase the odds of HIV infections almost two folds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also found that new mine openings were associated with increased risky sexual behaviours such as multiple partners, high-risk sexual partners and unprotected sex with high-risk partners.\u201d<\/p>\n
A total of 23,495 people in Ghana tested positive for HIV in the first half of 2022.<\/p>\n
The figure is two percent of the 948,094 people who undertook HIV testing from January to June 2022, the Programme Manager of the National STIs and HIV\/AIDS Control Programme, Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo said in August this year.<\/p>\n
Dr Ayisi Addo said most of the 23,495 people who tested positive had since been put on HIV treatment.<\/p>\n
He attributed the figures to complacency and ignorance, explaining that awareness creation on the part of health workers had decreased.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome youth today don\u2019t know HIV is there. Some know, but they have assumed that it\u2019s gone. People are now more afraid of COVID-19 and the Marburg fever than they are of AIDS,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Overall, he said, as of December 2021, the estimated population of HIV-positive persons in the country was 350,000, with only 71 percent being identified by the control program.<\/p>\n
Of that number, he noted, over 245,000, representing 99 percent, were on treatment as of June this year.<\/p>\n