Ghana to end AIDS by 2030 - First Lady
She made this known at a high-level meeting of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against Aids/HIV (OAFLA) taking place in New York on the sidelines of the 72nd UN General Assembly.
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The OAFLA meeting is on the theme: “Global Partnership towards harnessing the demographic dividend in Africa”.
According to her, Ghana is currently implementing the ‘Treat All and Task Sharing Policy’ targeted at ending AIDS by 2030.
READ ALSO: HIV infection rising in Ghana
She said that the policy emphasizes “strengthening of our health systems as well as creating synergies and partnerships among government institutions, development partners, private sector, civil society organizations and faith-based organizations to deal with HIV/AIDS”.
Mrs Akufo-Addo believed that Ghana can only achieve a healthy population if it strengthens its health systems adding that “strengthening the health systems will have a ripple effect on the HIV response.”
Civil society groups recently indicated that the rate of HIV infection among people in Ghana was increasing.
This was attributed to the inadequate funding from the government and reduced donor support.
In 2000, 3.4% of the population were said to be infected with the disease.
But the figure reduced to 1.4% in 2014 following a massive campaign.
READ ALSO: HIV rises among pregnant women
Currently, 2.4% of the population are said to be infected with the viral disease with many having fears that this may threaten the country’s move towards achieving the 2016-2020 national HIV strategic plan.
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