A nine-member AIDS Committee has been inaugurated in the Hohoe Municipality to provide high-level advocacy for HIV prevention and control in the Municipality.
The Committee will also provide leadership in decentralized planning, supervision and support of HIV programmes irrespective of the funding source as well as foster linkages among stakeholders.
The Coordinator for Volta Regional Technical Support Unit, Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Madam Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, in a speech read on behalf of the President, said the GAC Act 938 had made copious provisions to safeguard the rights of persons living with HIV, establish HIV and AIDS fund and promote resource mobilization.
She said with hard work and commitment, the goals set including the “ambitious 95-95-95 fast track target” could be achieved.
“By 2025, 95 per cent of all people infected with HIV should know their status, 95 per cent of all people diagnosed to have HIV would receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 95 per cent of people receiving antiretroviral treatment would have viral suppression.”
Madam Anyomi said achieving the targets is necessary to position the nation favorably towards ending AIDS by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“I am fully aware that at the heart of achieving these goals is the need to strengthen our resource mobilization drive. Therefore, the government has established the national HIV and AIDS funds to ensure that our national response is financially self-reliant.”
The Coordinator urged the Committee to support the government in its drive to achieve the targets set adding that “as a nation, we pride ourselves on having achieved a generally low prevalence which is at 1.7 per cent in 2019 for the general population.”
She said new infections were however increasing likewise the Hohoe Municipality with an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 1.38 per cent and 105 estimated new infections in 2019.
The Committee has Mr. Andrews Teddy Ofori, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) as Chairperson, Togbe Adzofuwusu IV, Representing the Traditional Council, Madam Enyonam Afi Amafuga, Volta Regional Director of Education acting as Municipal Director, and Dr. Pius Mensah, Municipal Director of Health.
Others are; Rev. Fr. Isaac Benuyenah, Representative Christian Group, Madam Felicia Agbekor, Representing Persons living with HIV, Mr Ridwan Mairiga, Muslim Rep, Madam Emma Amuzu, CSO dealing with HIV and AIDS Rep, and Mr Kodjo Mawugbe as HIV Focal Person.
The MCE for Hohoe Municipal Assembly Mr, Ofori, in an address said the inclusivity of the vulnerable in the development agenda of the Municipality was critical to achieving the vision of the Assembly.
“When a percentage of the population is prevented from being productive, when they are unable to achieve their potential or when their voices are simply not heard, there cannot be a sustainable development of our Municipality.”
The MCE said activities and programmes undertaken for the past years focused on counselling and testing of the general people, counselling and testing of ANC clients on HIV to prevent mother to child transmission, provide Anti-Retroviral Treatment services and public education through radios and during large public gatherings. He said there was a growing recognition of the importance of ensuring that people with HIV and AIDS were integrated into the socio-economic development efforts in the Municipality.
Mr. Ofori said since HIV/AIDS prevalence was high in the Municipality, the Assembly continued to put in efforts to sensitize and educate the public on the spread, prevention and avoidance of stigmatization.
