Public Agenda (Accra)
Patricia Ofori Atta
29 November 2007
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has said that one of the biggest challenges in the country is how to support the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children that occur as a result of death caused by the HIV/AIDS virus within the communities.
According to GAC, it is estimated that about 200,000 orphans and vulnerable children are in Ghana who have lost one or both parents due to HIV.
GAC said the country urgently needs more funds and technical support to ensure that all orphans and vulnerable children in the country receive the support they need.
This was said at the media sensitization workshop on HIV/AIDS organised by the United Nations System in Ghana. The theme for the programme was "AIDS response in Ghana-role of the media".
GAC stated that from the 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update, the number of people living with the virus worldwide was 33.2 million and 2.5 million were infected, while 2.1 million died during the course of the year.
The Technical Director of Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Richard N.Amenyah said 26,000 new affections were received this year and out of the number, women dominated the disease than men.
He said in countries with high prevalence rates the impact on mortality and population growth is striking and in some of these countries life expectancy has been reduced as much as one-third.
"For a typical family where the disease is present, the loss of an adult in the prime of his life does not only leave behind a bereaved family, but also an HIV infected spouse and orphaned children.
Dr.Amenyah mentioned that with the increase of the disease, the country need to develop and implement strategies to promote the delivery of comprehensive prevention and support to those infected by the epidemic.
"The GAC has set up national strategic frame work that is guiding the commission to address those affected by the disease," he said.
He said Ghanaians have every reason to know their HIV/AIDs status because that is where they would walk with free conscience.
"Without knowing your status, it would be difficult to leave with a clean conscience. People must know that those who are strong are the ones at risk," he said.
According to him, stigma and discrimination constitute major problems for people living with the disease and makes it difficult for them to disclose their status.
"There is a widespread view that HIV/AIDS results from immoral behaviour and so people refuse to know their status," he said.
Dr.Amenyah stated that the GAC has recognized that for the Commission to make any impact, they have to make testing free for Ghanaians in order for them to know their status.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka explained that Ghanaians need to remind themselves of the havoc the diseases has caused in all sectors of their lives.
"The disease is in our families, firms and businesses, agriculture sector, education health, economy and general development. So we have to tackle our activities against this epidemic with renewed efforts. He stated.
He observed that as most of the people affected by the virus are those in their prime, which makes the economic development of the country slowed down.
"If nothing is done about this virus, the country will not be able to achieve its lofty aims and the people will become more and more impoverished. No doubt, the epidemic is threatening the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Dr. Saweka mentioned that the UN system in Ghana has recognized that the HIV/AIDS subjects are not well packaged and has therefore instituted the annual media awards under the MDGs as incentives to attract media to deepen their involvement to give more publicity to all the goals.
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