Achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 treatment target by 2025 in Ghana: a myth or a reality?

ABSTRACT

The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has set ambitious treatment targets known as Project 95-95-95, aiming to achieve 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% of diagnosed individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on ART achieving viral suppression by 2025. Through a comprehensive analysis of Ghana’s HIV/AIDS response, we evaluate the feasibility of Ghana’s efforts in realising these targets. The discussion explores Ghana’s achievements in HIV testing and diagnosis, ART coverage, and viral suppression rates, as well as challenges related to stigma, limited access to healthcare services, funding constraints, and data quality. Strategies such as strengthening prevention efforts, expanding access to ART, addressing stigma, and enhancing health systems are discussed as the way forward to advance Ghana’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 treatment targets. While Ghana has made significant strides in its HIV/AIDS response, achieving the 95-95-95 targets is a challenging yet realistic goal.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS response
• HIV testing
• treatment
• viral suppression
• achievements
• challenges
• Ghana

Responsible Editor Stig Wall

Responsible Editor Stig Wall

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana AIDS Commission for granting permission to freely access information needed for the drafting of this paper. Special thanks to the editors, editorial board, and reviewers whose constructive criticism, review, and administrative checks have helped contribute to the quality of the paper.

Author contributions

Dorothy Serwaa Boakye conceptualised the study, performed the literature search, wrote the first draft, and revised the final version. Samuel Adjorlolo critically analysed the write-up, made intellectual contributions, and edited the draft. All authors approved the submission of the final version to Global Health Action.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Paper context

The United Nations has set ambitious treatment targets to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. Ghana has made significant progress towards the treatment targets by 2025 but faces substantial challenges. Through a combination of prevention, testing, treatment, and care services, the country aims to reduce new infections, ensure early diagnosis, and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. With sustained efforts, Ghana can make significant strides in ending the AIDS epidemic.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.