The Free Senior High School policy, which has raised the enrollment rate for girls in the nation, may have contributed to the recent decline in HIV infections and adolescent pregnancies, according to Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, director general of the Ghana Aids Commission.
The Ghana Aids Commission revealed that 16,574 new HIV infections were reported in Ghana in 2022 compared to 16,938 in 2021. The number indicates a 2% decrease in the number of new infections.
Speaking on Thursday, February 1st, on the Asaase Breakfast Show, Atuahene claimed that a 50% decrease in teenage pregnancies had resulted from more girls enrolling in school.
“We are aware that educating girls through secondary school contributes to a decrease in the number of pregnancies.
And that is a symptom that the Free SHS introduction has brought about, as more girls are now enrolled in secondary schools.
The Free SHS policy is closely related to the trends. “We also know that, in terms of HIV infection, girls who continue their education through secondary school are protected from the virus on their own.” That alone can cut these girls’ infection rates by up to 50%, according to Dr. Atuahene.
