She presented her credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Shirley A. Botchway, in November 2017.

Mrs Trenton-Mbonde brings extensive experience in public health, HIV and development, particularly in the areas of Technical Collaboration, Policy and Strategy as well as high level UNAIDS engagement in UN reform processes and coordination boards.

She has served UNAIDS in different capacities in various postings and has been working in the UNAIDS Liaison Office in New York since August 2012 prior to this new assignment.

In the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Trenton-Mbonde spoke about the importance of getting a strong message to the people of Ghana that AIDS is not over but it can be.

She emphasized the need to intensify efforts to achieve the fast-track 90-90-90 targets, and to address bottlenecks and gaps in HIV testing, treatment and care, and HIV prevention in a catch-up plan.

Ms Trenton-Mbonde explained that countries in West and Central Africa were being left behind due to gaps in HIV prevention and treatment. As a result, UNAIDS developed a West and Central Africa Catch up Plan to help speed up implementation of the fast track targets which was adopted by the Heads of States and Governments at the 29th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

Mrs Trenton-Mbonde is confident that these actions would set Ghana on a course to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

She replaces Mr Girmay Haile, who is now in Zimbabwe serving in a similar capacity.

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Source: UNAIDS

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Speaking in his role as Chair of the PCB for 2017, the Minister of Health of Ghana, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said, “Through our pledge we demonstrate our willingness to contribute to the fight against the disease.”

The contribution makes Ghana one of the leading African donors to UNAIDS and follows recent commitments on funding for UNAIDS by other African countries. On becoming the Chair of the PCB earlier in 2017, Mr Agyeman-Manu stressed that Ghana would work closely with UNAIDS to achieve the collective goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé thanked Ghana for its pledge. “Ghana’s pledge of US$ 200 000 for UNAIDS is another example of Africa increasing its investment in the AIDS response,” he said. “Shared responsibility is vital if the world is to meet its commitments to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030,” he added.

About UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Source: UNAIDS

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The dinner offered the opportunity for the young diplomats to have a final interaction with Mr. Girmay, on his experiences working as a Diplomat in Ghana and to congratulate him for his selfless dedication to the vision of UNAIDS in Ghana and support for the cause of YDG as Patron.

In his remarks, Mr. Haile, who has been the UNAIDS boss in Ghana for the past five years was full praise for Ghanaians and mentioned that Ghana has become a home for him and his family.  In his words, “Ghanaians at the individual level are high quality people, collectively; very peaceful people, full of smiles and proud of their identity”.

In sharing his experiences with the young diplomats, the UNAIDS boss was excited about the transformation of the country into an advanced economy and urged the young diplomats to take advantage of the economic growth,  to soar higher as aspiring leaders and diplomats despite the challenges that may come with it.

He urged them to be proud of their Ghanaian identity, always keep the interest of the country in mind and also understand themselves as individuals and as a group, to be able to be extraordinary in their accomplishments and also to make an impact on the development of the country as young people.

The outgoing UNAIDS Country Director also urged the young diplomats to approach their daily activities with confidence and also be sensitive about the confidence level of others as this is a great means of breaking barriers and being successful in all endeavors.

Mr. Kordzo Sedegah, an Economics Specialist with the UNDP Ghana who was a Special Guest at the dinner commended Mr. Haile for his hard work and dedication to work. He particularly admired the UNAIDS boss for his friendliness and ability to quickly adapt to the Ghanaian environment and circumstances.

Mr. Sedegah further presented a magnificently framed picture of the YDG Delegates with Mr. Girmay Haile taken at an earlier meeting as a gift to him, on behalf of YDG.

Also present at the dinner were staff and executives of the International Perspective for Policy and Governance (IPPG) and Diplomatic Call, the mother organization of the Young Diplomats of Ghana group.

The Young Diplomats of Ghana (YDG) is a registered non-governmental and non-profit network that seeks to advance the development of a new generation of aspiring leaders and diplomats in Ghana, and to build their advocacy experience.

Mr. Haile’s heads to Zimbabwe from Ghana to head the UNAIDS country office.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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