Our Community Voice of Strength

By Richard Agodzo In Ghana, the fight against HIV has been ongoing for decades. Despite significant strides made in raising awareness, providing treatment, and improving care, we still face a critical gap: the lack of meaningful youth engagement in the policy-making process. The reality is, the future of Ghana’s HIV response depends on the very people who will shape that future—the youth. Yet, they remain largely marginalized in decision-making, despite being the most adept at using the technological tools that could revolutionize our approach. The Untapped Resource: Youth in the Digital Age The youth of Ghana are tech-savvy, dynamic, and well-positioned to lead a new era of HIV education, prevention, treatment, and care. With the rise of social media, smartphones, and mobile applications, digital tools offer immense potential in reaching out to young people, especially those living with HIV. These platforms can serve as safe spaces for education, emotional support, and even telemedici...

By Richard Agodzo Ghana’s fight against HIV faces a significant setback, as lifesaving drugs for HIV-exposed infants remain stranded at Tema Port since July 2024. Despite the critical importance of these medications, necessary for preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to their infants, bureaucratic delays have resulted in a situation that puts hundreds of vulnerable children at risk. The urgency of this situation is highlighted by mothers living with HIV across various health facilities, who continue to face the frightening possibility of their infants becoming infected due to a lack of proper medication. Mothers across Ghana have expressed their frustration and heartbreak as they attempt to protect their children. Many are struggling to secure adequate medication, with some health facilities rationing or sharing the drugs. One mother from a health facility in Accra, visibly distressed, shared, “We are doing everything we can as mothers to keep our babies healthy. But how can...