Ghana reduces HIV infection by 66% in ten years – GAC
Dr Angela El-Adas, Director General of Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), has said the country’s new HIV infection had been reduced by 66 per cent over the last ten years.
She said the significant decrease had made the country the highest reduction of HIV infection in West and Central Africa adding that the AIDS in the country had reduced by over 30 per cent.
“We are among 16 countries with up to 39 per cent reduction in Mother to Child transmission of HIV and at least half of PLHIV who need treatment have been initiated with 95 per cent of them surviving”, she said.
Dr El-Adas made this known at a Dinner and Awards Night to mark the 10th Anniversary of GAC which was on the theme, “A Decade of Active Partnership towards Elimination of HIV-Optimizing a Sustainable Response”
The event was aimed to award individuals and organisations have supported the GAC in combating the HIV/AIDS and providing the needed support for those living with the disease.
It was also used to launch GAC cloth which would give GAC a corporate identity and help build the team spirit among staff.
Since 2002, she said, GAC had advanced through both good and challenging times, maturing in commitment, passion and approach with the secretariat growing in strength.
Dr El-Adas said with only two staff from the beginning, GAC now boosts of 57 staff as well as improvement in offices facilities, infrastructure and management process adding that there are plans to recruit for the Regional Technical Support Units.
She said this would help take care of the ever increasing load and scope of work at the decentralized level.
Dr El-Adas said GAC was fully aware of numerous hurdles it must overcome in order to actualise the country’s vision of zero new infection, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.
“We are looking into the next ten years of our response with great expectation that we will eliminate all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths in an environment free of stigma and discrimination”, she said.
She urged all stakeholders to remember the positive impact of active and healthy partnership and commended all development and funding partners for their tremendous support to the institution.
A special award given to President John Dramani Mahama for his immense contribution towards the establishment of GAC.
Source: GNA