Accra: Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has emphasized the necessity for ongoing efforts to advance research, broaden preventive measures, and boost awareness to eradicate HIV/AIDS. He called for support from all sectors and individuals, both within and beyond the health sector, to propel Ghana’s initiatives in HIV campaigns and ensure comprehensive coverage across the country. Dr. Kuma-Aboagye made these remarks at the commencement of the National HIV/AIDS Dialogue Series in Accra, themed ’20 Years of HIV Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in Ghana: Celebrating Progress, Advancing Research, and Ending the Epidemic.’
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye underscored the significance of not only commemorating the two decades of HIV antiretroviral treatment but also concentrating on the urgent course ahead towards eradicating HIV in Ghana. He reflected on the past, when HIV was perceived as a death sentence that disrupted families and posed insurmountable cha
llenges. However, significant progress has been achieved through the government’s commitment, healthcare professionals’ dedication, patients’ resilience, and partners’ unwavering support.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye highlighted that the dialogue series serves as a crucial platform for public education and mobilizing communities to eradicate stigma and misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS. He remarked that access to treatment and adherence have saved numerous lives and enabled many individuals to lead healthy and productive lives. Nonetheless, he emphasized that success also necessitates sustained partnerships, financial commitment, and a robust national health infrastructure.
Prevention remains the most effective and sustainable approach to ending the pandemic, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye asserted. He advocated for a national movement to promote high-impact prevention strategies, including community education and empowerment. He urged the utilization of media, community programs, and digital platforms to bring HIV back to the for
efront of public health efforts and discussions, promoting self-testing as a transformative tool. In recent years, self-testing has emerged as a powerful means to overcome barriers such as stigma and fear, necessitating a supportive environment, increased access, and education on its benefits.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye also called for intensified research to drive innovation in efforts to end the epidemic. He stressed the importance of exploring new and improved ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately eradicate HIV in Ghana. The GHS is working towards establishing two new research centers in the Western North and Savannah regions to boost the research infrastructure and focus on locally driven research tailored to specific contexts and the needs of the people.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STI Control Programme, reported that since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), over 300,000 people across Ghana have received treatment, with approximately 157,000 individuals curr
ently on ART. He noted that the treatment has enabled many people to live healthy lives, prevented deaths, reduced mother-to-child transmission, improved survival rates among children, alleviated burdens on families, reduced healthcare costs, and decreased the number of orphans. Mr. Ayisi Addo emphasized that the programme’s impact extends beyond numbers, affecting human lives and individual well-being.
Dr. Frankline Asiedu-Bekeo, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, remarked that the dialogue series illustrates the commitment and resilience that have shaped Ghana’s public health response over the past two decades. He noted that through research, understanding of HIV has deepened, resulting in evidence-based treatment models that save countless lives. The series highlights a decline in new infections and an increase in treatment coverage, providing an opportunity to reflect, strategize, and renew the commitment to ending the epidemic. It aims to enhance focus on robust research, community e
ngagement, and equitable access to treatment and prevention, ensuring that no one is left behind.