The Naana Kakie Foundation, a health-focused non-governmental organisation, has appealed to the government to prioritise early-childhood HIV/AIDS education as part of a long-term national strategy to curb new infections.
The foundation said introducing HIV/AIDS lessons into the basic school curriculum would strengthen preventive knowledge among children and help shape informed decision-making as they grow.
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It also called for the inclusion of basic infection-prevention concepts at the preschool level.
In a statement marking World AIDS Day, Ms Esther Kakie Ayimavor, publicly known as Naana Kakie and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, said early education promotes health awareness, reduces stigma and encourages responsible behaviour in adolescence and adulthood.
She noted that age-appropriate health and sexuality education in kindergarten and lower primary would equip children with a better understanding of HIV and empower them to make healthier choices later in life.
The foundation expressed concern about recent HIV statistics and urged stakeholders to address vulnerabilities among young people, particularly in regions with higher prevalence.
According to the latest Ghana AIDS Commission and National Surveillance Data, the Greater Accra Region currently has the highest number of people living with HIV at 77,821, followed by Ashanti with 54,824 and Eastern with 42,386.
In terms of prevalence among persons aged 15 to 49, the Bono Region leads at 2.22 per cent, followed by Eastern at 2.08 per cent and Ahafo at 1.88 per cent, while the North East Region records the lowest prevalence at 0.43 per cent.
The foundation noted that although Ghana has made progress in expanding treatment access and reducing AIDS-related deaths, prevention among young people remains a major challenge.
It called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ghana AIDS Commission and civil society organisations to position schools as frontline platforms for sustained HIV prevention.
