Gov't confident in eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2030 - Veep

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has assured the Ghana AIDS Commission of government's commitment to eliminate HIV and AIDS in Ghana by 2030 in line with the UN target.

Mr Amissah-Arthur also pledged government’s support for the next phase of the National HIV Response program.

He called on the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) to continue with its high level advocacy and ensure that it includes the political leadership.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said this at the opening of the 11th Annual Partnership Forum of the Ghana AIDS Commission in Accra.

The two-day conference, which is on the theme: “Fast-tracking the National Response towards 90-90-90”, is to afford partners and stakeholders the opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the National HIV Response and the capacity to achieve the three 90s by 2020.

Besides, the GAC has come to the end of implementing the National HIV and AIDS Strategic plan 2011-2015, and it is expected that findings and evaluations of the previous plan would help guide the development and operationalisation of a new HIV and AIDS Strategic plan 2016-2020.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur also assured the partner institutions like UN AIDS and other stakeholders of government’s commitment to the National HIV Response.

He urged the country’s development partners and stakeholders at the forum to make the needed commitments to help bridge the funding gap in the prevention, treatment, care and support for HIV/AIDS.

He called for the fast-tracking of the National HIV Response to the 90-90-90 target.

The Director -General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Angela El-Adas said Ghana is close to achieving the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV at birth.

Unfortunately, this gain is being undermined because some mothers fail to adhere to instructions regarding breast feeding.

She added that the country will not relent in its effort until every baby who is weaned remains HIV negative and able to provide quality pediatric treatment and care.

Dr. El-Adas said 2015 has been a challenging one. She mentioned the fire that raged the Central Medical stores in Tema in January, inadequate funding and delays with the replacement of defective condoms.

The UN AIDS Country Director, Girmay Haile said though ambitious, the UN is determined to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The Manager of the National AIDS Control Program Dr. Ayisi Addo, who answered a number of questions from the participants said the program lost antiretroviral drugs and related materials to the tune of 14 million dollars.

He said all the regions have their three months of supplies and the program will take delivery of the next consignment of drugs in January next year.

The Ghana AIDS Commission supported by its partners, has come to the end of implementing the National HIV and AIDS strategic plan of 2011 to 2015.

Participants will come out with a guidelines for the operationalization of a new HIV and AIDS strategic plan for 2016 to 2020 and funding options for the next 5 years