HIV No Longer A Disease - US Press Attaché

Ms Naomi Mattos, the Press Attaché at the US Embassy in Accra, has observed that HIV was no longer a disease but a condition, needing support to "kill" stigma and discrimination associated with it.

She said it was time people understood the condition to be an issue for everybody and shunned discriminatory attitudes.

Ms Mattos said this when she interacted with staff of the Ho Municipal Hospital as part of activities marking this year's World AIDS Day and the 10th anniversary of US President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Ghana.

PEPFAR is campaigning on the sub theme "HIV Stigma and Discrimination Kills. Just Stop It", and targeting 14 to 18 year olds with messages of prevention and protection.

"We need to recognise that we are part of the solution and not become a barrier", Ms Mattos stressed and tasked the media to help lift up the campaign against stigma and discrimination to meet the 90-90-90 targets for 2020 and AIDS free world in 2030.

Agenda 90-90-90 means, 90 percent of persons will know their HIV status, 90 percent will be on antiretroviral drugs and 90 percent of people living with the condition would have viral suppression in subjecting the HIV and AIDS disease under control and avoid spread.