Pregnant Women Suffer HIV/Prevention Care

The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El-Adas, has disclosed that stigmatisation and discrimination continue to undermine the prevention, treatment and care of people living with the HIV and AIDS. She noted that the Commission would campaign vigorously against stigmatisation and discrimination to mitigate the psychical impact of HIV and AIDS on the infected and affected. Speaking at the 27th commemoration of this year�s World AIDS Day at Ashaiman, the AIDS Commission boss was worried that albeit Ghana�s global recognition for rapid progress, some 25 percent of pregnant mothers in Ghana still do not have access to HIV prevention service. Dr El-Adas mentioned that �this is unacceptable in this day and age when no baby, absolutely none, should be born HIV-positive.� The Director General explained that for Ghana to achieve 100 percent coverage by the end of 2015 and elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by end of 2015, all hands must be on deck to mobilise communities, families, health workers, among others, to raise money and procure commodities for testing and treatment of every pregnant woman. She announced that Ghana is committed to a new standard- achieving the global target of 90. 90, 90 where 90 percent of all persons living with HIV would get to know their status, 90 percent of infected persons are started on anti-retroviral treatment and 90 percent of all persons on treatment have their viral load. Dr El-Adas charged government and stakeholders to create the enabling environment to ensure that no person is left behind by access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support to achieve the above target. The Director General assured that the Ghana AIDS Commission would continue to provide the necessary policy and strategic guidance and leadership to ensure strong regional and district level response. She commended the country�s effort in managing the HIV epidemic which has yielded positive results.