As Valentine’s Day approaches, health officials are urging the public, particularly young people, to prioritize safe sex practices, including condom use, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Data from the Ghana AIDS Commission reveals a concerning statistic: approximately 50 new HIV infections are recorded daily in Ghana. As of December 2023, 334,095 people in the country were living with HIV.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the importance of protection. He advised that those who choose to use condoms do so correctly, consistently, and continuously for optimal effectiveness. He also cautioned against misusing condoms and stressed that abstinence remains the safest option.
“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,” Dr. Ayisi Addo stated. While acknowledging the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), he reiterated that condoms provide a crucial physical barrier against infection.
The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) has ramped up its condom promotion and distribution efforts, particularly around festive occasions like Valentine’s Day. “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,” Dr. Ayisi Addo announced. The goal is to increase distribution from five million to approximately 15 million condoms this year.
Dr. Ayisi Addo recognized the social pressures young people face, especially during celebrations like Valentine’s Day. “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 suggested.
The NACP is collaborating with civil society groups and partners to intensify its efforts. “We are going to take advantage again of all events, including Valentine’s Day come Friday. Because this is an occasion where people rebel, there’s a lot of romantic activity and sex has to be definite,” Dr. Ayisi Addo explained. “A lot of risky, unprotected sex opens the door to unwanted consequences. It is our responsibility to protect the community and Ghanaians from HIV to reduce the new infections.”
Dr. Ayisi Addo called for increased partnerships to achieve a significant reduction in new HIV infections and reach epidemic control by 2030.
Valentine’s Day Reminder: Use condoms to avoid unwanted consequences,
