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World AIDS Day marked in Ghana

01 December 2021

Caption: Volunteers ready to hit the street with their placards to sensitize the public

Photo: © Ibrahim Osman Adongo

World’s AIDS Day was marked in with a renewed commitment by key partners to “End Inequalities, End AIDS and End Pandemic”.

This year’s World’s AIDS Day was marked with great commitment by key partners including the Ghana AIDS Commission and the UN in Ghana to “End Inequalities, End AIDS and End Pandemic” as the theme reminds us.

At a national event to mark the Day, speakers established the urgent need to enhance partnership to achieve more in the fight to end AIDS. “HIV is not just a health condition; it is a development issue. Therefore, whatever affects our development in one area or another, invariably affects all of us”, says Ambassador Dr. Mokowa Blay Adu-Gyamfi, Presidential Advisor for HIV/AIDS.

Caption: Dignitories at the national event held to mark the Day

Photo: © UNAIDS Ghana

The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Mr. Kyeremeh Atuahene acknowledged the positive developments in the fight against AIDS at the national level resulting in 21 per cent decline in new HIV infections and 36 per cent reduction in AIDS related deaths in the last ten years, and an increase by 159 per cent of number of HIV-positive pregnant mothers receiving antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother to child transmission.

He however called for the need to scale up services in order to achieve universal access for both key affected and general populations and to accelerate Ghana’s response.

The UNAIDS Ghana Country Director, Madam Angela Trenton-Mbonde, echoed that “Leaving No One Behind” in the fight to End Inequalities, End AIDS and End pandemics can be achieved by going beyond the achievements and intentionally seeking to find persons who are being left behind and bringing solutions to their problems. She added that the new Global AIDS Strategy entitled “End Inequalities; End AIDS”, clearly outlines that the way to end inequalities is to put people at the centre of the response. She said this is the only way to get the world on track to end AIDS by 2030 as a public health threat.

Caption: Participants at the national event showing off their T'shirt with the incription of this year's theme.

Photo: © UNICEF Ghana

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan expressed her joy at the commitment shown by different parties in ending AIDS and reaffirmed the US’ continuous support to the national HIV response efforts.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Government is committed to increase domestic funding for HIV response. This he said will fill the funding gap of HIV/AIDS.