GAC launches entertainment tool to stall HIV infection

Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) and other stakeholders, have launched a new entertainment tool for the promotion of Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT).

The tool, titled “Mama’s Determination” consist of a video drama recorded on a DVD, photo drama book and an interactive cards, which aimed at informing mothers and also motivate them to find their HIV status and those who tested positive to take their drugs regularly to live longer.

The new tools were developed by the Ghana Health Services, Ghana AIDs Commission (GAC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), based on a technology introduced by experts from the Japanese Organisation for International Cooperation in Family Planning.

In a speech read on his behalf, Dr Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, Minister of Health called for the effective use of the new tools in all health facilities, explaining that, PMTCT is one of the priority areas of the country’s strategic plan towards attainment of HIV free generation.

He expressed appreciation to Japan for the support in the production of the tool. Mr Welbeck Amoanim Twum of the GAC observed that, the importance of mother’s role in the PMTCT does not negate the importance of their male counterparts.

He said based on the socio-economic dynamics of the society, males play an important role in their female partners accessing PMTCT services. He said, efforts at reducing the HIV prevalence indicate the need for sustainable efforts from partners if the country is to achieve Zero mother to child transmission.

The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Naoto Nikai appealed to people who would be responsible for the implementation of the project in the regions to give it a priority so that the objective of the project would be achieved.

He expressed the hope that, the use of video drama, photo drama books and the use of interactive cards would meet the needs of the targeted population for the project to succeed.