Life Relief Foundation and the Western Region Civil Society Advocacy Group, have urged state actors in the fight against HIV/AIDS not to relegate their respective roles in the fight against the disease.
The group believes that failure to stay on course with preventive steps which have so far seen the reduction and a subsequent control of the virus will be disastrous on the health of victims and the population at large.
Speaking after a media engagement in Takoradi on the theme “strengthening availability and accessibility of HIV commodities in the Western Region”, the Chief Executive Officer of Life Relief Foundation, Cecelia Oduro, underscored the need for a sustained campaign against the virus.
She explained that “looking at the trends and the global response to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, there must be a wake-up call to the Government of Ghana, the Ghana Health Services, Ghana Aids Commission and the National Aids Control Programme to guarantee People Living with HIV an uninterrupted supply of Antiretroviral Treatments. They should have access and this access must be sustained through a lifelong commitment”.
The global response targets a 90:90:90 agenda which will come to an end in 2030.
Mrs. Oduro said for Ghana to achieve this target “what this means is that, 90 percent of the Ghanaian populace should know their HIV status, 90 percent of positive cases should be put on antiretroviral Treatments, and the same 90 percent must have access and sustained treatment until they get viral suppression”.
This call for an increase and sustained supply of the Antiretroviral Treatments, according to Mrs. Oduro, is because “we know that it is only 37 percent of people living with HIV [in Ghana] are on antiretroviral treatments. So if it is going to be 90 percent, then it means there should be an increased adequate supply of stocks.”
The fight against the disease may not be won in Ghana because “donors are cutting down their support towards the fight and government’s counterpart funding is also inadequate.”
Mrs. Oduro urged all stakeholders to revive the fighting spirit against the virus so as to contain the spread and “if possible, eradicate the epidemic in Ghana completely.”
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana