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The International Health Care Centre (IHCC) has partnered with MTN Ghana Foundation to provide HIV/AIDS education and screening for the general public on World AIDS Day which falls on Saturday, December 1st, 2018.
IHCC is known in the public health sector for its outreach programmes, quality care, counselling and support for clients with chronic conditions like HIV-AIDS.
The Medical Director of IHCC, Dr. Naa Ashiley Vandepuye, said about this exciting development, “We are very thrilled to team up with the MTN Foundation to provide HIV education and screening to the hardworking businessmen and women at the Madina Market on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the World AIDS Day which coincides with the 20th anniversary of IHCC”.
IHCC is an adaptive organization and this partnership with MTN exemplifies our dedication to providing access to health services for all but especially vulnerable, poor and marginalized populations.
According to Ms. Barbara Owusu, Communication and Learning Manager of IHCC, “outreaches form an integral component of IHCC’s mandate which is to provide accessible and equitable medical care of the highest quality for all people, including people living with chronic illnesses, through supportive and compassionate initiatives that focus on the needs of patients and enhance health and quality of life”.
According to the National AIDS Control Programme, at the end of 2017, Ghana had an estimated 315,000 People living with HIV (PLHIV) with around 100,000 being on treatment and an enrolment rate of only 30% whilst the prevalence rate of HIV among the youth aged 15 -24 years is increasing in the country.
This is against the background that the UN global 90-90-90 target for HIV Management is that 90% of those living with HIV should know their status, 90% of those who know their status should be linked to care/treatment and 90% of those linked to care should attain viral load suppression by 2020.
The clarion call on 2018 World AIDS DAY is for all stakeholders to get involved in encouraging as many Ghanaians living with HIV to get tested and treated in order to attain viral load suppression.
Viral Load Suppression among PLHIV’s is critical in the battle against HIV-AIDS because low viral loads translate into lower probability of transmitting the virus to other people and this will ultimately help in the complete elimination of HIV-AIDS by 2030.
About the International Health Care Centre
Founded in 1998, the International Health Care Centre commenced operations as one of the very first hospice centres in Ghana dedicated to full-blown AIDS patients. With increasing accessibility to antiretrovirals, the facility shifted focus to becoming an outpatient clinic, offering a full spectrum of first line medical services.
Although the facility now provides general medical care, it maintained its focus on caring for Persons Living with HIV and became one of the accredited Antiretroviral Therapy Sites in Ghana.
The Clinic has continued to work with numerous local and international partners including the Ghana AIDS Commission, the National AIDS Control Programme, the Ghana Health Services to offer affordable and quality health care to Ghanaians.
Other services provided by IHCC include women’s preventive health, family planning, general medicine, vaccinations and the provision of laboratory services. The vision of IHCC is, “a world where everyone has access to affordable and quality health care.”
The Center currently cares for over 1,400 HIV clients in Haatso, Accra and has received a number of awards for its commitment to affordable medical service. For more information on the International Health Care Centre, visit this website http://ihccghana.com.
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