Western Region Launches New AIDS Committee As HIV Cases Rise

Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has launched a nine-member committee to tackle the growing HIV crisis in the region. The move follows alarming data showing 1,120 new infections in 2024 with a steady rate of three daily cases.

Meanwhile the Regional HIV Coordinator, Dr. Felicia Amihere has called for a united effort to halt new infections, eliminate stigma, and boost vital services.

The establishment of the nine member Regional Committee (ReCCOM) of the Ghana AIDS Commission marks a critical step in decentralizing Ghana’s national HIV and AIDS response, as mandated by the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938) and L.I. 2403 of 2020.

It is tasked with accelerating the regional fight against the disease by ensuring inclusive access to prevention, treatment, and care, thereby guaranteeing that no one is left behind.

At the inauguration ceremony, the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson Citing data of 1,120 new infections in 2024, and a persistent five-year trend of approximately three new daily cases, was gravely concerned.

The Western Regional HIV Coordinator, Dr. Felicia Amihere, reports 449 new HIV cases in the first nine months of 2025, indicating a rising prevalence.

This comes after the western region was ranked fourth in Ghana in the 2024 estimates, with 24,885 people living with HIV.

To combat this, Dr. Amihere appealed to the public to follow preventive measures, countering the false belief among many youths that HIV is not a real threat.

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