HIV-AIDS claims 275 lives in Ashanti region

Two hundred and seventy-five (275) people died of HIV/AIDS in the Ashanti Region, last year.

Regional Focal Person, Mr. Dennis Bandoh who announced this at a pre-implementation meeting of an HIV Advocacy Project in Kumasi revealed that resort to prayer camps for treatment coupled with late report to the health facilities , were to blame for the deaths.

The project is a partnership between Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) and Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) – both NGOs, with funding from the United States (US) Ambassador’s Small Grants Project.
He bemoaned the significant percentage of people living with the disease in the region who are not on treatment, largely because of the stigma.

According to him, 18,579, representing about 49 per cent out of the total of 38,265 patients were not on treatment.
Mr Bandoh expressed worry at the development as it fell far below the goal set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) of ensuring that 90 per cent of the patients was put on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by year 2020.

As part of an ambitious treatment target to end the AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS has come up with what it dubs: “90-90-90”.

Under this, the expectation is that by year 2020, 90 per cent of people living with the disease would know their status, 90 per cent of those with diagnosed infection would receive sustained ART and 90 per cent of all receiving ART would have viral suppression.

Mr. Bandoh highlighted the need to overcome the stigmatization, to encourage those with the infection to seek treatment at the hospitals and also reduce the laboratory test charges to ensure adequate supply of HIV/AID test kits in the facilities.

Executive Director for HFFG, Mrs. Cecilia Senoo, said the goal of the one-year HIV Advocacy Project was to help break down barriers and motivate people living with the disease to access quality treatment services and medication.

She said the project has targeted the Kumasi Metropolis, Obuasi and Bekwai Municipalities, and would be working closely with the Ghana Health Service, Ghana AIDS Commission, the Network of Association of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+Ghana), the Ghana-West Africa Program to Combat and STI (WAPCAS), the media, traditional and religious leaders, to achieve the intended outcomes.

Source: otecfmghana.com/Ebenezer Amankwah