Veep Pledges Gov�t Support At Reducing HIV/AIDS, TB And Malaria

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has pledged that government will continue to support and work towards further reducing the transmission of infection as well as mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

This according to him is to ensure equitable and universal access to essential medicines, commodities and services necessary for improved life expectancy.

The Vice President made this known when he addressed the African Union Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria on Monday.

The Summit is on the theme: �Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and the Future.�

According to Mr Amissah‐Arthur, Ghana tripled its coverage of antiretroviral medicines for pregnant women living with HIV, resulting in a 76 per cent reduction in the number of new HIV infections among children.

Between 2000 and 2012, �there is also an increasing trend of tuberculosis cases identified and placed on treatment from 57 to 63 per 100,000 population with progressive success in cure rate,� he said.

Touching on malaria, the Vice President said �under‐five malaria case fatality rate has reduced by 96 percent�� since 2003. He added that between 2000 and 2012, malaria-related deaths for all ages has also reduced from 6,100 to 2,815.

Ghana, Mr Amissah‐Arthur said, is on track towards achieving the
ABUJA and MDG targets.

He pointed out however that given the gaps in funding, the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria cannot be won by individual isolated country efforts, observing that �it is very important to harmonize efforts by all member states.

�We are at a critical stage where continued funding is uncertain and that calls for new approaches for domestic and international financing mechanisms towards accelerated attainment of the MDGs,�� the Vice President said.

Source: Office of the Vice President