GAC urges increased HIV intervention as galamsey zones record new cases

Dr. Prosper Akanbong, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), has emphasised the need for renewed efforts in HIV and AIDS intervention and sensitisation in illegal mining, otherwise known as “galamsey”, zones.

He expressed worry that new cases of HIV were emerging in illegal mining areas in the Upper West Region, hampering efforts in the fight against the disease.

“We are beginning to see pockets of new infections that are coming up in the region, and especially in the newly emerging areas where gold has been found, and they are doing galamsey activities,” Dr. Akanbong stated.

The GAC Director General said this in Wa during a stakeholder engagement on the HIV and AIDS response in the Upper West Region as part of his working visit to the region.

The visit was also to assess the GAC’s Technical Coordinating Unit in the region and strengthen stakeholder collaboration in the HIV epidemic response.

Dr. Akanbong also held separate meetings with the Upper West Regional Focal Person on HIV and AIDS and the Upper West Regional and Wa Municipal Health Directorates.

He attributed the emergence of HIV in illegal mining areas to a high level of drug abuse, alcoholism, and general risky lifestyles of the people, calling for well-coordinated intervention in those areas to stop its spread.

The GAC Director General, therefore, indicated that they were extending HIV interventions such as condom distribution to illegal mining areas and ensuring that those who knew their status were enrolled on the Antiretroviral Treatment (ART).

Talking about the self-test kits, Dr. Akanbong indicated that the Commission was considering incorporating the HIV self-test kits into the workplace policy to encourage all workers to test and know their status.

Dr. Akanbong commended the region for the strides it had made in reducing the HIV prevalence rate and infections in the yet-to-be-released report for 2024.

He expressed hope that the region would be a model of HIV response in the country due to its coordinated and targeted intervention mechanisms and reduction in new infections.

Mr. Osei-Bonsu Gyamfi, the Upper West Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, appealed to the stakeholders to strengthen their collaboration with his outfit in the HIV and AIDS response efforts.

He also stressed the need for the public to practice safe sex, get tested and get enrolled on the ART to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Stakeholders at the engagement included representatives from the National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NAP+ Ghana), Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), Civil Society Organisations in HIV response, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service and some security agencies.

The stakeholders at the engagement commended Dr. Akanbong for the visit and engagement, as that would revitalise the HIV and AIDS response efforts in the region.

Dr. Akanbong was accompanied by Dr. Fred Nana Poku, Director of Technical Services, Mr. Derick Oppong-Agyare, Deputy Director of Programmes, Mr. Kingsley Amoako, Principal Internal Auditor, and Madam Josephine Oppong-Adusa, Executive Secretary to the DG.

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