Ghana joins global campaign to end HIV/AIDS

Ghana has joined the global campaign to end the HIV and AIDS by 2030, the Director General of Ghana Aids Commission (GAC), Dr Angela El-Adas has said.

The global campaign indicates that by 2030 AIDS would no longer threaten human life although there would be new cases, which would no longer be public health danger.

She said this in a speech read on her behalf, at a consultative forum which brought together District Chief Executives, District Coordinating Directors, District Directors of Health Services, District Planners, Traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Media.

Dr El-Adas explained that as part of efforts to join the crusade, the GAC had aligned its 2016 -2020 National Strategic Plan with the 90-90-90 fast-track targets aimed at achieving the global goal.

“Per the 90-90-90 fast-track targets, 90 per cent of all people living with HIV are expected to know their status, 90 per cent of all people diagnosed with HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral will have viral suppression,”, she explained .

Dr El-Adas, said the consultative forum was part of the preparation towards working to achieve the goals and appealed to stakeholders to contribute towards achieving the results.

She said similar consultative forums are being organised by the Commission throughout the 10 regions and urged the Regional Coordinating Councils to mainstream HIV and AIDS issues into their long and medium term development plans.

She also impressed upon traditional and religious leaders and CSOs to support in the massive mobilisation of communities to access HIV Testing Services.

Dr El-Adas also called on the staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to expand HIV testing approaches.

She said the Commission is also considering building the capacity of more health workers and advocating a national policy to be passed for other categories of people to be engaged in providing HIV testing services.

She commended the GHS Staff and other stakeholders for working to reduce the HIV and AIDS prevalence in the region particularly from mother to child transmission and said plans are far advanced by the Commission to set up a technical support unit to provide technical support to regional response to HIV.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Albert Abongo said failure to address the challenges of the HIV and AIDS menace would affect the progress and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.