As Ghana starts its term as the newly elected Vice-Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) for 2016, the President, John Dramani Mahama, underlined how increased advocacy, partnership and investment in the AIDS response will bring results that go beyond health. Such efforts will also improve broader gender, rights and development outcomes across the sustainable development agenda.
President Mahama said during discussions with visiting UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle that complacency needs to be addressed by expanding evidence-informed and rights-based initiatives, programmes and services. Scaling up capacity for local production of antiretroviral therapy is one way.
Ghana has made significant strides in its AIDS response through integrated multisectoral HIV responses that provide lessons learned for western Africa. Ghana reduced new HIV infections by 53% between 2001 and 2014 and AIDS-related deaths by 45% in the same period. According to 2008 and 2014 demographic and health surveys, HIV testing among women almost doubled between 2008 and 2014.
While in Ghana, Ms Beagle met with key stakeholders from government, civil society and international partners to prepare the country’s Vice-Chairmanship of the PCB and its role at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS.
Welcoming Ghana’s new role within the PCB, Ms Beagle commended the country’s comprehensive and cross-sectoral approach, which has shown particular collaboration across government sectors of health, education, gender, culture and justice. She noted the importance of continued focus on addressing social drivers of HIV in Ghana and the broader western Africa region, underlining the need for particular populations at highest risk, including, critically, adolescent girls.
Minister of Health Alexander Segbefia underlined that by focusing the response in locations and among populations where HIV risk and vulnerability is highest, Ghana will be able to build on the gains made, sustain momentum and move towards an AIDS-free generation.
“This is not the time to let our guard down. This is the time we should be stepping up our responses to get to the end of AIDS. We are honoured to be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Programme Coordinating Board and we will play our role very effectively with UNAIDS—our strong partner in achieving success.”
John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
“Ghana’s cross-governmental approach is impressive and is driving change. As Vice-Chair Ghana will bring experience and energy to the Programme Coordinating Board. We are looking forward to Ghana’s support for a strong political declaration at the High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, to help us make the end of AIDS a reality.”
Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director
“As Ghana takes the position as Vice-Chair of the Programme Coordinating Board, we will certainly work hard to justify the confidence reposed in us. We are committed to working closely with UNAIDS to achieve our collective goal of making our world AIDS-free by 2030.”
Alexander Segbefia, Minister of Health of Ghana
