Global Funds support Ghana with $7m grant

Accra, Nov. 10, GNA - Government's effort to combat the HIV/AIDS menace had been given a boost by the Global Funds, an international non-governmental organisation with the granting of seven million US dollar grants to Ghana to expand projects for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH).

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need.

Speaking to newsmen in Accra at the weekend after a tour of the Northern Region to inspect and interact with PLWH, Mr Rocky Dawuni a Ghanaian Afro Roots Reggae star and leading promoter of Global Funds projects in Ghana explained that the funds partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, was to assist PLWH.

He explained that the grant to Ghana through the Ministry of Health under the National AIDS Control Programme NACP would focus on a comprehensive approach to AIDS through preventive and treatment based on locally determined needs.

A portion of the grants would also be use to provide antiretroviral treatment, stressing that the project would focus on young people who comprise 40% of all new infections worldwide. He said the fund actively seeks to complement the finance of other donors and to use it to catalyze additional investments by donors. Mr Dawuni said the substantial infusion of resources would enable Ghana to scale up existing programmes to a level commensurate with need.

He said it was evident that science-based HIV prevention is effective, especially when backed by high-level political leadership, a national AIDS programme, adequate funding, and strong community involvement.

He encouraged media practitioners, politicians, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State and the general public to get involved fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Dawuni said prevention efforts should also inculcate clear and accurate communication about HIV/AIDS and methods to prevent infection, HIV counseling and testing, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

The vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world do not have access to treatment, as a result of limited health care infrastructures and the high cost of many medications.