By Naa Atswei Sowah
President Akufo-Addo says it has become worrisome with the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infection. He said in order to reduce the spread and transmission, a National HIVAIDS Fund will be set-up to ensure adequate domestic resources to deal with HIV/AIDS response on a sustainable basis.
President Akufo-Addo made the point in a message to mark the 2021 World AIDS day in Accra,
The Fund which is being prepared by the Ghana Health Service will be put before Cabinet for consideration and subsequent approval shortly, according to the President.
According to statistics from the Ghana AIDS Commission on the 90-90-90 programme, 58% of persons living with HIV know their status, with more than 300,000 persons living with HIV.
The HIV/AIDS infection rate in Ghana has shot up this past year with the Ashanti Region said to lead on the chart with Eastern Region placing second.
Many people are going through stigma and neglect after getting infected or undergoing treatment of HIV/AIDS. President Akufo-Addo said ending AIDS and achieving academic control are the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan 2020-2025. He added that Covid-19 has disrupted the gains made in dealing with HIV/AIDS pandemic in terms of testing, prevention and treatment services.
Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kyeremeh Atuahene, called for behavioural change to reduce the spread of HIV AIDS transmission. He said the Commission is implementing its five-year strategic plan on sensitization campaigns to reduce stigma, neglect and violence.
Some hospitals, clinics in the regions and individuals were awarded for their contribution and campaign in dealing with infection and transmission of HIV/AIDS. There were solidarity messages from UNAIDS, WHO, US Ambassador as well as NAP+ Ghana and other partners. There was free medical screening for HIV, exhibition and community engagement. This year’s World AIDS Day was on the theme ‘End Inequalities, End AIDS, End Pandemic’.
World Aids Day, Jirapa, Upper West Region.
Statistics from the Upper West Regional office of the Ghana Aids Commission says the HIV Prevalence in the Region increased from 0.83 in 2019 to 1.1 in 2020.
There is however a marginal decrease in the prevalence in the last five years. The Regional Technical Coordinator of the Commission, Dramani Yakubu disclosed this to GBC News in Wa ahead of the celebration of World Aids Day at Jirapa.
GBC’s Swala Abdul Wahab reports that the Upper West Region recorded 318 new infections in 2020. Out of the figure, 162 were females and 66 males.
The Regional Technical Coordinator of the Commission, Dramani Yakubu said majority of the affected were young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
