Harare (Zimbabwe), Dec. 7 – Ghana’s National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) Programme Director, Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, has revealed that the country has achieved great strides in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
He disclosed that as of 2022, there were 350,000 HIV-positive people in Ghana, of whom 254,753 were aware of their status. Of these, 222,581 were receiving treatment, 97,630 had viral suppression, and 9,400 had died from AIDS-related causes in 2021.
Regarding the new infection, Dr. Ayisi Addo stated that 17,000 cases were reported in Ghana in 2022, emphasising that the country’s HIV prevalence points to a widespread pandemic.
Dr. Ayisi Addo, presenting “monitoring and use of data to improve differentiated HIV testing services in Ghana,” at the ongoing 22nd edition of the International Conference on Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) in Harare, Zimbabwe, noted that Ghana is making steady progress.
At the 2023 ICASA, a group of HIV health experts, including Dr. Ayisi Addo, analysed the Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) programme of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in light of implementation experiences from various nations.
The experts extended implementation activities tailored to individual countries so that all HIV-positive individuals might benefit from diverse service delivery models that streamline HIV care, such as 6-month Multi-Month Dispensing (MMD) for youth.
Among the well-known individuals present at the meeting was Mr. Alexander Grant Ntrakwa, the ambassador of Ghana to Zimbabwe and a career diplomat with vast multilateral diplomatic experience.
According to Dr. Ayisi Addo, the National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) implemented the updated WHO guidelines in 2016 and is now treating all HIV-positive individuals with ART, irrespective of their immunological status or clinical stage.
He clarified that DSD outlines how services may be modified to take into account the wants and preferences of the clients and lessen the workload for medical professionals.
According to him, these modifications can be made to services tailored to certain populations as well as to the entire spectrum of HIV care, from testing to virological suppression.
The NACP has approved the service delivery models, according to Dr. Ayisi Addo, but the final decision regarding the model to use in a particular district will be made following an examination of local data and a review of the difficulties that patients and healthcare professionals are facing.
The improvement of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and continuity for various demographic and risk groups, as well as the integration of DDD and related services with national health systems and services, were also addressed.
The panellists who joined in the discussion are Jean Berchmans, Programme Monitoring, Evaluation, and Resources Mobilisation Officer, Rwanda Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (RRP+); Dr. Amir Shroufi, Senior HIV Advisor, The Global Fund; and it was moderated by Ms. Celine Lastrucci, DSD Technical Officer Testing, Prevention, and Populations Unit, Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programme WHO Headquarters.
The other speakers and panellists encouraged healthcare workers and patients to work together to achieve the goals of ending HIV and AIDS.
The ICASA 2023, which started on December 4 and is expected to end on Saturday, December 9th, is on the general theme “AIDS is not over: Address inequalities, accelerate inclusion, and innovate.”
It is being organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa in collaboration with the government of Zimbabwe and other partners, including the World Health Organisation, the Global Fund, and others.
