Ghana sets 2015 target to attain zero HIV/AIDS deaths
Ghana’s ambition of attaining zero new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections, discrimination, and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths by 2015 is attainable.
Dr Angela El-Adas, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, who made the remarks, added that Ghana needed to apply sound evidence to plan and fully finance implementation of the interventions to attain the ambition.
She was speaking on Tuesday at the Third National HIV and AIDS Research Conference 2013, organised in Accra.
It was to disseminate findings from relevant HIV and AIDS related research undertaken in Ghana, discuss future programming strategies, in the light of evidence and best practices and to promote advocacy.
Dr Eldas called for continued leadership, ownership and shared responsibility to consolidate the successes chalked and to accelerate efforts to tackle the epidemic.
Mr Girmay Haile, United Nations AIDS Country Co-ordinator, singled out the country for commendation for having made progress in reducing incidence of HIV infections, discrimination and AIDS-related deaths.
The national HIV prevalence had declined from 3.6 per cent in 2003 to 1.3 per cent in 2013. Prevalence among sex workers had reduced from 35 per cent in 2006 to 11 per cent in 2011.
In the area of treatment, there had been an increase in Persons living with HIV (PLWHIV), who received anti-retroviral medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV from 50 per cent coverage in 2011 to 70 per cent in 2012 and an increase in treatment coverage for persons living with HIV, who are eligible from 13,814 in 2011 to 14,332 in 2012.
The country had recorded 76 per cent decline in number of new HIV infections among children and almost halved (43 per cent) the number of new HIV infections among women of reproductive age from 6,700 to 3,800.
Mr Haile however called for consideration of what could account for Ghana’s possible inability to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Four even though she is on track to meet the MDG Five.
“Is the HIV data reflecting a larger systemic failure in pediatric service delivery,” he asked.
On antenatal care, Mr Haile said while 87 per cent of pregnant women had more than four visits, much needs to be done concerning antenatal care for women living with HIV.
“Whilst there is 68 per cent skilled attendance at delivery, what is the percentage for women living with HIV? Is there data to assess this,” he asked.
Mr Haile expressed optimism that the event would address ways of ensuring that women, who tested negative for HIV remained negative.
He called for a focused package of prevention interventions in the health care facility to help the more than 90 per cent of pregnant women who test negative for HIV to remain negative.
Mr Paul Victor Obeng, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), announced that the Commission was developing a medium-term national policy framework to support the Ghana AIDS Commission and to respond effectively and efficiently to deal with the epidemic.
Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health called for the possible exploitation of the potency of herbs to boost the immune system of PLWHIV, and called for capacity-building for traditional healers and herbalists to find a cure for HIV and AIDS.
Source: GNA