As the world celebrates Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 14, the public, especially young people, are encouraged to use condoms to prevent unwanted consequences. This reminder comes because new HIV infections are recorded daily. According to data from the Ghana AIDS Commission, approximately 50 people in the country are diagnosed with HIV each day.
As of 2023 December, 334,095 people in Ghana were counted as living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, the Programme Manager, National AIDS Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, said protecting oneself against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) was crucial.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra regarding condom promotion, particularly during Valentine’s Day, Dr. Ayisi Addo emphasized the importance of using condoms correctly, consistently, and continuously to achieve the desired results. He warned against using condoms for purposes other than their intended use and advised that, despite all precautions, abstinence remains the safest option. He encouraged the youth to abstain from sexual activity as much as possible.
“So, for the youth out there, abstinence is key, and that is the safest way to save yourselves from sexually transmitted infections, from HIV in particular, from unwanted pregnancies and all the associated complications of fertility,” he said. “We have introduced pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is used in medication. But to date, condoms are a physical barrier to infection.”
Condom use is one of the many interventions initiated by the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), which, to date, has proven to be a physical barrier to infection prevention. “In the past we have had challenges with condom supply, but I’m happy to announce that this year we have a lot of condoms and as part of the promotion and activation programme, we have taken stock of over 20 million condoms,” he added.
He encouraged the youth to be given the needed support because their feelings were real, and they faced all kinds of challenges. “But the frenzy around Valentine’s Day and the celebrations create an amiable environment for this. Creating an alternative such as promoting chocolates, among others, would still be pleasant and fulfilling, just like the Romans do,” he added.
The condom promotion and activation programme, which started in 2024, takes advantage of festivals and festive occasions to distribute condoms among the public as part of measures to reduce new HIV infections in the country. Dr Ayisi Addo said his office, in collaboration with civil society groups and partners, this year, would be more deliberate to intensify the number of condoms distributed from five million to about 15 million.
“We are going to take advantage of all upcoming events, including Valentine’s Day this Friday. This occasion often leads to increased romantic activity, and it’s important to acknowledge that many people engage in risky, unprotected sex during this time. This behaviour can lead to unwanted consequences. It is our responsibility to protect the community and the people of Ghana from HIV and to reduce the number of new infections. I urge everyone to form partnerships under this initiative so we can achieve a significant reduction in new infections and work towards epidemic control by 2030.”
Source: GNA
