Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene has urged Ghanaians to check their HIV/AIDS status.

According to him, carrying out a test is the best way to ensure a healthy life and prevent being infected.

“The best way to prevent HIV is to know your HIV status, so testing is one of the best ways of keeping yourself and your family healthy because once you know you are negative you know what to do to keep you negative. And if you are positive, you know what to do to live a healthy and productive life,” he said.

He made this comment on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday as the world marks World AIDS Day.

The Director explained that the virus is best treated when discovered early.

“Once you are told that you are positive, accept it and immediately enroll on anti-retroviral treatment because it is important to start the treatment while you are strong.”

“If you start late when you already have AIDS, the treatment outcome will not be as good as it will be if you were healthy and strong before you initiated treatment,” he told host, Blessed Sogah.

He mentioned that his outfit preaches prevention and encouraged people to reduce the risk of being infected and protect themselves.

In the interim, the government has announced plans to set up HIV/AIDS funds to help eradicate and control the disease.

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu disclosed this while delivering his keynote address at the celebration of World AIDS day on Thursday.