The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has urged a united front to fight HIV stigma, promote human rights, and ensure fair access to HIV prevention services for all.

She emphasised that issues such as discrimination, stigma, lack of access to healthcare, and socioeconomic disparity need to be addressed for Ghana to achieve effective HIV prevention.

“These barriers do not only worsen the spread of HIV but also perpetuate inequality and injustice, it is imperative that we address these barriers head-on with courage and determination if we are to succeed in our mission,” she said.

Mrs Akufo-Addo was speaking at the 2024 National HIV Prevention Summit in Accra on Thursday.

She said eradicating HIV stigma and discrimination called for a coordinated effort from all facets of society.

The summit was on the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges, Uniting for Effective HIV Response”

Mrs. Akufo-Addo stressed the need to give communities the knowledge, resources, and support they need to take charge of their health and well-being and protect themselves and their loved ones from HIV.

She said society must urgently and fully implement HIV prevention measures and make sure that everyone who needs them receives them.

Innovations in HIV prevention for all categories of persons currently include long-acting injectables, the vagina ring treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission protocols, which have been enhanced with highly effective antiretroviral medications and point-of-care screening devices.

Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission said the fight against HIV and AIDS response was at a crucial stage, with scientific tools and proven strategies to eliminate the disease readily available to combat global economic challenges.

Insufficient financing, noncompliance with preventive measures, and persistent stigma and discrimination, he claimed, were preventing Ghana from providing the basic HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services that are required to bring the epidemic under control by 2030.

Dr. Atuahene said HIV is acquired and transmitted daily in every community in Ghana.

“We have to talk about HIV prevention because new infections are very high since the sexual behaviours that drive HIV transmission and acquisition are increasingly pervasive with rising levels of high-risk sexual activities among both men and women in every region,” he said.

Dr. Atuahene said Ghana must prioritize the HIV prevention roadmap to establish a comprehensive national approach for preventative interventions and programmatic scalability, which would the country to meet the 2025 Global AIDS Targets.

He said in efforts to reduce new infections, the GAC intends to provide people-centred prevention models of care to those at high risk of acquiring HIV.

This year’s HIV Prevention Summit is expected to create a platform for stakeholders to develop a national agenda to prevent the disease.

Dr Atuahene said the summit would finalize the milestones developed by the national HIV prevention coalition during the 2025 HIV Prevention Road Map Review and Milestone Setting Workshop earlier in the year.

“Considering this, the summit will explore innovative technologies, and foster collaborations to strengthen HIV prevention strategies in Ghana while solidifying accountability mechanisms for HIV prevention progress,” he said.

Back when Tiger Woods made headlines for his affairs with multiple women, he was back in the news not too long afterward.

This time, rumors spread that he was cheating on his (now ex) girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn.

It was easy to believe tabloid speculation that his cheating ways were the reason for their breakup, but according to People, Tiger and Lindsey broke up because it just “didn’t work out.” 

That’s normal, but sometimes, cheating is to blame. Why do men cheat? And is there a reason why married men cheat in particular?

Here are 5 reasons why some men cannot stop cheating, according to an expert:

1. That’s all they know.

Some men have been cheating since they were in middle school. It is part of who they are, and it’s so ingrained it has become part of their identity.

Without being a womanizer, they don’t know who they are. Learning to be monogamous takes work. They need counseling to unlearn this behavior and to work on it daily.

2. They have no moral issue with it.

Morally, some men don’t have a problem with hiring an escort. The guy who cheats on you probably feels the same way or he wouldn’t do it. It is easy to be remorseful after the fact. But can morals be taught? In most cases, no.

3. They have low self-esteem.

Cheaters tend to have low self-esteem — their ego rewards them when they can have multiple women. But cheaters need to learn to love themselves before they can love anyone else.

4. They’re addicted.

Some people are addicted to sex and love. They become obsessed and can’t stop thinking about it until they act on it. Sex and love addictions can be treated with individual and group therapy. However, they’re not going away by themselves. Men who cheat need to do the work to improve.

5. They’re self-sabotaging.

Some men tend to sabotage their lives when it’s going well. They may not know why they are doing or what they are doing and simply can’t stop.

There is always an unresolved issue from their past that causes a person to self-sabotage, so counseling and couples therapy help.

If your man fits into one of these categories, just know there is hope. He can change if he wants to change, has a good support system, and devotes himself to becoming a better person.

The change won’t happen overnight, he will be tempted to cheat while trying to change. Make sure to get help — change takes time.

Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you can do for your health and happiness. And, I’m not just talking physically. I’m talking mentally, as well. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. You should not feel guilty about it. Indeed, you can’t take care of anybody else unless you have taken care of yourself. I see it all the time. You will burn out when you don’t take care of yourself. Why do so many of you put yourself last on the list to be taken care of? Is it an old mindset? There is no good reason to put yourself last.

Here are 10 signs you are not taking good care of yourself:

1. You’re easily frustrated in your relationships

You find yourself getting mad or snapping at others for no reason. You’re even surprised at how irritable you’ve become, and you worry the wrong people are taking the hit.

2. You’re more tired than energized throughout the day

You find yourself exhausted by noon.

3. You worry all the time, are on edge, and are easily agitated

You feel squeezed or compressed from all angles.

4. Your friends and loved ones are pulling away from you

You haven’t seen your friends in weeks and your family won’t return your calls.

5. You don’t feel creative and are lacking inspiration

You no longer want to try new things.

6. You don’t love doing the things you used to do

Everything bores you, and all you do is eat and sleep.

7. You are abandoning your desires and dreams

Instead, you put your partner’s (and everyone else’s) first.

8. You are not able to understand how your behavior affects yourself and others

People are scared to talk to you because of how much you lash out.

9. Your actions don’t line up with your desires and dreams

You don’t care about your goals and ambitions anymore.

10. You rely on caffeine, painkillers, or wine to get you through the day

If these 10 things sound familiar to you, then it’s time to recharge your batteries. Your body is like a car, it needs fuel to run. When a car runs out of fuel, it will stop and so will you. The better you treat yourself, the better you will feel. This will help when things are difficult. It also helps with your attitude.

Here are 5 ways to feel better:

1. Talk to family and friends

It helps to talk to others when you are feeling down or overwhelmed. If you’re ready, leap and meet with a counselor or life coach. They can help you clarify how you are feeling and what to do next.

2. Take a vacation or go on a retreat

This will help you feel calm. It will also satisfy your need for adventure. These days you don’t have to spend a lot of money. With a little research, you will find the perfect getaway. Remember, this is a vacation. Which means you are not checking your phone every 5 minutes. If possible, shut it off.

3. Purge and then rebuild

Clutter is not good for the mind. It’s also not good for the people around you. When you let go of the old, you make room for the new. I’m not just saying get rid of the physical stuff around you. Maybe, it’s time to let go of some toxic relationships or people in your life. You can also let go of bad memories and negative thought patterns, you hold on to. Surround yourself with things and people you love.

4. Socialize and connect with others

As human beings, we all desire to connect with others. Go to new events. Say “yes” to an invitation, when you would normally say “no.” It’s important to try new things. If you haven’t heard from your family or friends in a while. Take the initiative and invite them out. You could go out for dinner or go to a concert.

5. Be honest with yourself

Whose fault is it that you aren’t taking care of yourself? One of the beautiful things about being a human being is our ability to change course when we desire. If you aren’t feeling fulfilled, this is a great way to start living the life you have always wanted.