The President of the Ghana HIV/AIDS Network, Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, has noted that condoms are one of the most effective ways to safeguard oneself against sexually transmitted infections.

According to him, protecting oneself against HIV/AIDS is paramount to reducing the high infection rates recorded every year.

He said, “Over 10,000 people die every year due to the disease.” Ortsin outlined key points to consider when using a condom, urging young people to embrace a culture of protection during sexual intercourse.

Here are five things he highlighted:

Ensure that you wear a condom only on a fully erect penis.
Do not open the condom with your teeth, scissors, or any sharp object.
Make sure there is no air in the condom before wearing it.
Do not wear more than one condom at a time.
Dispose of condoms properly after use.

Ortsin also criticized the government's role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ghana.

According to him, no funds have been allocated to the Ghana AIDS Commission in the last eight years.

He noted that while the commission previously received support from the Global Fund, this funding was redirected toward providing HIV medication, which is very expensive.

Speaking in the latest episode of Health Focus on GhanaWeb TV with Stella Dziedzorm Sogli, the GHANET president stated, “We don’t see the campaigns because the government is not giving the Ghana AIDS Commission the needed resources. In the past, the Ghana AIDS Commission worked with NGOs to carry out campaigns across the country since the commission itself lacked the resources to do the work.”

He added, “In the beginning, when the HIV/AIDS Commission was established, the Global Fund primarily supported its work.”

GHANET emphasized that medications were provided freely to patients because a lack of treatment increases the risk of infections.

Amoabeng stated that his organization has embarked on various advocacy drives to push the government to support their efforts in sensitizing Ghanaians about HIV/AIDS.

SSD/KA

Watch the latest episode of Health Focus below