The Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) has issued an earnest appeal to the government to prioritize the immediate revival of the National HIV and AIDS Fund.
Mr. Ernest Amoabeng Orstin, President of GHANET, highlighted that the fund was initially established in 2016 during the first term of the then-President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Regrettably, following the change of government after the 2016 elections, the succeeding New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration failed to operationalize the fund, effectively abandoning the critical initiative.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr. Orstin lamented that this neglect has had serious consequences, directly impeding essential activities designed to reduce new HIV infections, strengthen advocacy efforts, and execute robust preventive campaigns.
Mr. Orstin emphasised the need for the current administration to take decisive action to reinstate and capitalize the fund, stating that this is vital for Ghana to intensify and sustain its national campaign against HIV/AIDS.
This urgency is compounded by the fact that external funding from key partners, notably the Global Fund and UNAIDS, is no longer assured or sufficient for all activities.
“The Global Fund previously provided substantial funding to Ghana’s fight against HIV and AIDS. However, approximately 10 to 15 years ago, recognising the increasing rate of new infections, they advised us to secure alternative domestic sources of funding to run prevention campaigns, while they focused support on procuring life-saving antiretroviral drugs for those affected. Unfortunately, successive governments have failed to consistently allocate the necessary resources for intensive public education and prevention campaigns to reduce new infections,” Mr. Orstin stated.
He stressed that the 2016 establishment of the National HIV and AIDS Fund by the Mahama administration was intended precisely to generate dedicated funding for prevention activities.
“After the electoral loss, the new government unfortunately failed to prioritise the fund, neglecting to allocate any resources. We are appealing to the President to revisit and revive this vital fund. We have already formally petitioned his office. There is a dangerous public perception that HIV is no longer a major threat, yet the virus claimed over 12,000 lives just last year.”
Call for Enhanced Testing Capabilities
In addition to the fund’s revival, Mr. Orstin urged the government to import new, advanced HIV testing kits capable of detecting the virus within two weeks post-infection.
He noted that the currently utilized kits require up to three months for reliable detection.
Early detection is paramount, as it enables prompt commencement of treatment, reduces complications, and prevents progression to AIDS.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
