Minister decries non-performing NGOs

- As WOFA joins the ranks of HIV/AIDS NGOs
- WOFA to construct a 350-room Hospital and Research facility in Ghana

The deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Abraham Dwuma Odoom, has expressed concern over the activities of some NGOs in Ghana, which he said have added nothing to the eradication of HIV/AIDS in the country. “Whilst some have chalked considerable successes, he said there are also stories of questionable NGOs that have thrived on the HIV/AIDS platform without any imaginable results”.

Mr. Abraham Odoom was speaking in Accra at the launch of Woyome Foundation for Africa (WOFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS. The foundation is aiming at the mobilization of funds and the provision of treatment, therapy, care and support to enhance and improve the living standards of HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons especially women and children across Africa.

The deputy minister asked people to rally behind organizations such as WOFA to crusade against the disease because, “everybody is at risk….let us all support the affected and infected people living with HIV/AIDS and change a terrible situation into a better one. You make the difference! And you must get up and make that difference in someone’s life”

Mr. Abraham said according to the Ghana AIDS commission, about 48,403 people were in need of Anti-Retroviral Treatment in 2006 while about 8,500 people were provided with the treatment.

The 2006 sentinel survey released in April this year indicated that HIV prevalence rate in Ghana is 3.3% among pregnant women while the national rate is 2.22%.

He said the depletion of the productive age group has affected many nations and weakened their economies. He estimated that by 2020, over 25% of the labour force in Sub-Sahara Africa countries may be lost to AIDS.

The Deputy Minister said the government will partner and support WOFA initiatives to raise support for orphans and vulnerable children and appealed to society to join the crusade. “Now, what makes Woyome Foundation for Africa (WOFA) different, is its intended direct approach to dealing with HIV/AIDS, the global involvement of all stake-holders in the battle against HIV and AIDS, - through a global fund raising event to be held in Ghana next year for the establishment of legacies and institutions across Africa”

Mr. Vitus Nanbigne, Project Coordinator of WOFA announced a number of activities line-up by the foundation to achieve its aims and objectives.

There would be an African Conference on HIV/AIDS to come out with the best approaches in managing the diseases.

He said the foundation will construct a 350-room hospital and research facility to serve as a treatment, therapy, counseling and rehabilitation for HIV/AIDS patients.

Mr. Nanbigne said HIV/AIDS has reached a human right dimension and described the current trend as a war.

“It is in deed a war, because the silent destruction of the virus, together with the opportunistic diseases that it allows, must be stopped. The harrowing social and economic implications of HIV/AIDS can no longer be ignored by the masses of people, and left to be dealt with by just a few”

Mr. Robertson Kwasi Kpasta, Board Secretary of WOFA said the major aim of the foundation is to moblize financial and human resources from allied agencies to enhance and improve the living standards of the youth, women and children of Africa. Plush Other aims are “To mobilize and equip HIV/AIDS movements in communities, working in partnership with public and private institutions to create a safe environment free of HIV /AIDS in Africa and assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS with emphasis on attitudinal changes stigmatization, protection and provision for orphans and care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS”