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| HIV/AIDS: Ghanaian Youth Advised To Value Condom Use. |
The National AIDS and STIs Control Program (NACP) has encouraged
youth to prioritise condom usage.
This is because they are a vital tool in managing sexual and
reproductive health as well as family planning, this is true.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi-Addo, the NACP programme manager, stated that
statistics showed that whenever condom distribution in the nation was low, the
number of sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases increased. He also noted
that STI clients had an HIV prevalence of 12% compared to the general HIV
population of 1.7% and urged young people to make condoms a part of their daily
lives.
He gave the advice at the launch of the 2022 National Family
Planning Week on the theme: “Breaking Myths and Misconceptions on Family
Planning.”
The aim is to mobilise support to shape the future.
The Programme Manager said: “It is not true that there is HIV in
contraceptive pills and injectables. It is rather true that if you don’t use
condoms, you are at a higher risk of getting HIV.”
He said without using a condom, one could prevent pregnancy but
not HIV.
“Young people rush for emergency pills and forget that they must
use condoms to prevent STIs and HIV.
“Pregnant women who have unprotected sex have HIV prevalence of
two per cent. So, the value of condoms, which is an important tool in family
planning and sexual and reproductive health should not be underestimated to
enable the country to achieve some progress.”
According to Dr. Ayisi-Addo, there were signs that numerous
pregnancies were linked to an increased risk of HIV.
“At our last survey, people who have been pregnant five times had
prevalence of about 3.4 per cent compared to those who were pregnant once of
1.4 per cent.
“The reason is that if you have more pregnancies then it means you
are having more unprotected sex and you have higher risk.
“We also noticed that if the relationship is formal, is better
with 2.1 per cent than people who are cohabiting and singles who engage in
unprotected sex,” he added.
In order to prevent unplanned pregnancies and HIV, he recommended
the young to take contraceptives properly, consistently, and persistently. This
would allow them to make wise decisions that would improve their chances of
survival and growth.
The Ghana Health Service and stakeholder partners have identified
a number of events for the Family Planning Week, which began on September 26,
2022, and is anticipated to finish on October 2, 2022.
Meetings with media and stakeholder representatives, debates on
television and radio, free services at specific sites, health speeches for
organised groups, parades, and other actions for community mobilisation and awareness
raising around the nation are just a few of the activities listed.
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Source: ghananews.hrforum.uk
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