The Youth and Women Empowerment (YOWE), a non-governmental organization implementing HIV and AIDS interventions in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, has recorded significant success in reducing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) default rates, paving the way for the commencement of the second phase of its flagship volunteerism project.

The project, titled “Reducing the Impact of HIV and AIDS through Volunteerism in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region,” is being implemented with funding support from the STAR Ghana Foundation in collaboration with the Municipal Health Directorate, Atua Government Hospital, St. Martin’s de Porres Hospital and the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly.

According to official reports from the Municipal Health Directorate, the ART defaulter rate in the municipality reduced from a worrying 35% in May 2024 to 23% as at May 2025.

This improvement translates into 591 people living with HIV—177 males and 414 females—who were successfully traced by volunteers, re-enrolled on ART and are currently active on their medication.

Health officials and stakeholders have attributed this progress largely to the intensive volunteer-driven approach adopted by YOWE, which combines hospital-based follow-ups with sustained community outreaches.

Trained volunteer nurses stationed at the Atua Government Hospital and St. Martin’s de Porres Hospital have worked closely with health staff to identify defaulters, update records and provide counselling to clients who had dropped out of treatment.

Beyond tracing defaulters, the project also addressed long-standing data challenges within the HIV care system. Through the diligent work of volunteers, gaps in HIV and AIDS databases at the two facilities were identified and rectified.

In total, records of 220 deceased clients and 182 individuals who had self-transferred to other facilities were updated, leading to significant improvement in the accuracy of municipal HIV data.

Another notable success has been the reduction in discrimination and stigmatisation against People Living with HIV (PLHIV) within health facilities.

Following reports by volunteers that stigma from some health workers was contributing to the high defaulting, the Municipal Health Directorate engaged facility management and staff. These engagements led to improved attitudes and a more supportive environment for clients accessing ART services.

In terms of outreach, the project reached 3,273 PLHIV with HIV education, counselling and psycho-social support services during the reporting period from June 2024 to May 2025. Additionally, volunteer nurses extended education beyond clinics, reaching 1,250 members of the general public—208 males and 1,042 females—through community sensitization activities.

These achievements are particularly significant given that the Krobo areas remain among the highest HIV prevalence zones in the Eastern Region. In 2024, Lower Manya Krobo recorded a prevalence rate of 4.65 percent, with Yilo Krobo at 4.5 percent and Upper Manya Krobo ranking fourth at 3.28 percent.

Lower Manya Krobo alone recorded hundreds of new infections, underscoring the urgency of sustained interventions.

Municipal Chief Executive for Lower Manya Krobo, Hon. John Atter Matey, has consistently emphasised the need to tackle stigma, describing it as one of the biggest barriers to HIV response.

He noted that education and care are critical to helping People Living with HIV survive and prevent further transmission.

Building on these gains, YOWE has officially begun the second phase of the project, following an inception meeting held at the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly on December 10, 2025.

The new phase, which runs for eight months from November 2025 to July 2026, will focus on review meetings, intensified community engagements and continued tracing and counselling of ART defaulters.

Two categories of volunteers are involved in the second phase: facility-based volunteers at the two major hospitals and community nurses operating from CHPS compounds and other health posts across several communities within the municipality.

With continued support from STAR Ghana Foundation, stakeholders are optimistic that the project will further reduce default rates and contribute to lowering HIV prevalence in the municipality.

As the second phase begins, YOWE’s success story stands as a strong example of how volunteerism, collaboration, partnership and community engagement can deliver measurable impact in the fight against HIV and AIDS.