Ghana must do more to fight HIV-related stigma | Health

Ms. Comfort Asamoah-Adu, Executive Director of the West Africa AIDS and STI Program (WAPCAS), an NGO, said the issue of stigma and discrimination continues to erode success gained by Ghana in the fight against HIV, especially among key populations. .

She added that if Ghana could solve HIV problems by 2030, every effort should be made to eliminate stigma at all levels.

Asamoah-Adu said that there is still a high level of HIV-related stigma in communities and health facilities, as well as in the general population. His organization was working in communities and in some institutions to help reduce this stigma in different ways. construction and awareness activities in partnership with traditional leaders and community members.

WAPCAS is a civil society organization that has been working in Ghana for 23 years. It provides services in the areas of HIV and reproductive health, as well as tuberculosis to key populations and other groups in selected Ghanaian communities of Greater Accra, Eastern, Western, Brong Ahafo and regions. Ashanti.

S addressing the Ghana News Agency about a stocktaking workshop held in Accra, Ms. Asamoah-Adu said that the organization had become in 2018 the only one of its kind. recipient of Global Fund support to provide health services to key populations and people living with HIV and HIV. AIDS in Ghana, as part of the promotion of their human rights and other community-building activities in some 33 districts.

The meeting was a CSO commitment to inform participants of WAPCAS activities and solicit their support and suggestions for improving the work.

Asamoah-Adu said the organization is also providing technical and financial support to other civil society organizations, including Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) and Pro-Link Ghana, to implement it. part of the projects.

She added that the project launched in 2018 would end in 2020 and provide services to the key population of 20 districts, and was intended to support the National Tuberculosis Program and the National HIV Control Program.

She explained that the projects provide capacity building and community building among people living with HIV, TB patients and key population "so that they can freely access the services of health facilities. ".

She added that STI management was also practiced at different levels, while HIV testing and management was underway in the community to help stop the spread of new HIV infections.

Asamoah-Adu said that, as part of the way forward, the media would engage more to deepen understanding of the issues, so that the media can support the campaign to eliminate stigma, while CSOs revitalized their advocacy at all levels to help reduce stigma.

Ms. Cecelia Senoo, executive director of Hope for Future Generations, said that her organization, as a sub-recipient of support, had implemented the program with WAPCA in the last six months.

She added that the meeting therefore provided stakeholders with the feedback and inputs needed to help support implementation and improve ongoing work.