The Ghana HIV/AIDS Network (GHANET) has launched a new online system that allows Ghanaians to privately and confidentially request HIV self-test (HIVST) kits from anywhere in the country.
The system, which becomes available from October 1, 2026, is accessible through the website selftestghana.online and is intended to make HIV testing more accessible while addressing concerns around privacy and confidentiality.
In a statement dated September 30, GHANET said, “Ghana HIV/AIDS Network (GHANET) is excited to announce that, starting from October 1, 2026, Ghanaians across the country can privately and confidentially request HIV Self-Test (HIVST) kits via a newly developed online system: https://selftestghana.online/.”
GHANET said the system was developed with technical support from the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP), UNAIDS, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Abbott Rapid Diagnostics.
The initiative is being implemented under the auspices of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ministry of Health (MoH) and The Global Fund.
The platform provides information on HIV prevention, treatment, testing and counselling, as well as myths and misconceptions about HIV, disclosure, partner testing, discordant couples, stigma and discrimination and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
It also provides a directional map to more than 700 antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres across the country.
GHANET said the HIV self-test kits would be distributed free of charge, although requesters would be required to pay a nominal delivery fee depending on their location.
Corporate organisations can also use the system to request HIV self-test kits on behalf of their staff.
GHANET said the initiative was designed to support Ghana’s national HIV and AIDS response within the broader international effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The network said the initiative was particularly important given the gaps that remain in Ghana’s HIV response.
According to data from the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana recorded a national HIV prevalence of 1.4 per cent in 2025, with an estimated 337,435 people living with HIV.
Of this number, 101,292 people were unaware of their HIV status.
Women accounted for 65 per cent of the estimated population of people living with HIV, while men accounted for 35 per cent.
The country recorded 13,951 new HIV infections and 12,051 AIDS-related deaths during the period.
GHANET said Ghana also fell short of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which seek to ensure that at least 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
Ghana’s performance stood at 70-81-92.
The network said that while Ghana had made progress in its HIV response over the years, a five-year trend analysis of the data revealed further concerns.
It said cumulative AIDS-related deaths over the past five years stood at 65,114, while cumulative new HIV infections over the same period reached 80,766.
GHANET said the figures were concerning, particularly because HIV was both preventable and treatable, and called for innovations and strategies to strengthen the national response.
The network said the online HIV self-testing system formed part of efforts to expand access to testing and encourage more people to know their HIV status.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
