The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has cautioned individuals and institutions against declaring people as living with HIV based only on an initial reactive test result, warning that such disclosures could increase stigma and discrimination.
Madam Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, the Volta Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC Technical Support Unit (TSU), explained that a reactive result from an initial HIV screening test does not amount to a confirmed diagnosis.
She said HIV testing follows a structured process that requires additional confirmatory tests before a person can officially be diagnosed and enrolled for treatment.
According to her, both World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and Ghana Health Service treatment protocols require a series of mandatory tests before confirming that an individual is living with HIV.
She stressed that some initial screening results may produce false positives, making confirmation an essential part of the testing process.
“A person who records a reactive result on the first screening test cannot be described as HIV positive until all the mandatory confirmatory tests have been completed. There are cases of false positive results, which is why confirmation is essential,” she said.
Madam Anyomi’s comments follow recent public discussions suggesting that some applicants who underwent medical screening during security recruitment exercises had been identified as HIV positive based on initial test results.
She expressed concern that such reports could create unnecessary fear and anxiety among the public while exposing individuals to discrimination and social stigma.
The GAC official emphasised that HIV testing must always be conducted with the consent of individuals, alongside proper pre-test and post-test counselling.
She added that confidentiality must be protected throughout the process, especially for people who receive reactive results.
She encouraged individuals with reactive results to undergo the full confirmatory process before any conclusion is reached about their HIV status.
Madam Anyomi also highlighted the progress made in HIV treatment, noting that advances in medical care have transformed HIV from a once life-threatening condition into a manageable chronic disease.
She explained that people who consistently take antiretroviral medication can achieve viral suppression, maintain good health and continue contributing meaningfully to society.
She added that Ghana’s estimated adult HIV prevalence rate of about 1.49 percent indicates that reported reactive cases from recent screenings are within the expected national range and should not create public alarm.
Madam Anyomi urged public institutions, officials and the media to handle HIV-related information responsibly and follow established health communication guidelines.
She stressed that protecting privacy and fighting discrimination remain critical to Ghana’s efforts to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS.
