Ghana’s HIV Prevalence Declines to 2.7%, Survey Says

The HIV prevalence in Ghana declined from 3.1% in 2004 to 2.7% in 2005, according to a surveillance survey conducted by the National AIDS Control Program of Ghana Health Service, Xinhuanet reports. NACP Program Manager Nii Akwei Addo said at a workshop on the survey, "A window of opportunity has opened and now is the time to forge forward effectively using our best practices and resources," adding that after a consistent rise in the prevalence in the past five years, the decline shows that the epidemic is stabilizing. He also said that a stabilized epidemic "require[s] ... new information, education and communication messages and materials [to] be developed to reflect new strategies" to fight the spread of HIV in the country (Xinhuanet, 4/20).