First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama has called on all Ghanaians to contribute to eradicating HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, emphasising the need for decisive, collaborative action.
Speaking at an integrated medical outreach at the Sunyani Jubilee Park, she urged families to educate their children openly about health and sexuality, and called on teachers to provide students with accurate information about HIV and AIDS.
Organised by the Office of the First Lady in partnership with the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, the outreach aimed to promote early detection, preventive care, and strengthen access to integrated health services for young people and mothers.
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Mrs Mahama also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to promote healthy behaviours in communities.
Highlighting the importance of compassion, she stressed that people living with HIV deserve support and understanding, not stigma or discrimination.
She called for a collective effort to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B, urging families and community leaders to support women in attending antenatal and postnatal care and adhering to prescribed medications.
“Together, we can eliminate mother-to-child transmission and ensure every child is born free from infection, healthy and full of potential,” she said.
Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, noted that despite progress, challenges remain, particularly among adolescents and young women.
He emphasised the importance of preventive strategies, including consistent condom use, and highlighted adolescent pregnancies as a pressing public health concern affecting education, health, and life prospects.
