Foursome: Verifie Ghana holds forum to discuss HIV/AIDs prevention

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There are growing calls for stakeholders to work hard towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ghana.

Speaking at a World AIDS Day event organized by Verifie, the Ghana AIDS Commission and UNAIDS Ghana in Accra, the Country Director for UNAIDS, Angela Trenton-Mbonde called for a comprehensive intervention programme to help persons with the HIV virus live healthily as victors and not victims.

She said communities and small populations of young people, women and advocacy groups hold the key to helping to fight the AIDS epidemic.

“Communities are at the hearts of AIDS response. We recognize and appreciate the contribution of community-led organizations of people living with HIV, key populations, young people, women and advocacy groups for policy change and in providing HIV and health services to people who need it the most,” she said.

Drawing a link between HIV/AIDS and sexual violence against women, she said fighting both issues in society is urgent and efforts must be accelerated to address both.

“Ending the AIDS epidemic and sexual violence against women is urgent. We need to scale up and accelerate actions. I urge you to be bold and courageous and take advantage of the [available] opportunity to ask questions and discuss the issues,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Director-General for the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kyeremeh Atuahene said Ghana is on course to achieve the 90-90-90 target that seeks to have 90% of people living with HIV knowing their status; with 90% of them being on treatment; of whom 90% are virally suppressed.

He said although there is a marginal increase in new cases over the past five years, the trend can be reversed if young people shun risky sexual practices.

“No effort must be spared in this [90-90-90] pursuit. The evidence strongly suggests that epidemic control and elimination of HIV/AIDS cannot be achieved until we achieve the 90-90 target. Young people are an important community that must be active in our efforts to achieve the fast track target,” he observed.

Mr. Atuahene noted that there were currently 37,411 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 living with HIV in Ghana.

“At the end of 2018, there were 37,411 young people living with HIV in Ghana. And this group of young people are aged between 15 and 24,” he noted.

He said young people must stop engaging in “risky sexual behaviours” and “adopt protective behaviours like abstinence and being faithful to one uninfected partner or correctly and consistency using condoms at all times during sex.”

“Ghana can attain the 90-90 target in a very short time because we have the right policies, strategies and capacity to achieve the targets if we work together. We are engaging relevant stakeholders to mobilize for testing, treatment prevention and care services.”

The program, dubbed “FourSome” focused on this year’s World AIDS Day theme; “Communities make the difference, help end AIDS”.

The event brought together groups of students, entrepreneurs, corporations and the media to discuss HIV/AIDS in Ghana.

Source: Daily Mail GH