Ghana to observe World AIDS Day on November 27

Ghana will observe the 2012 World AIDS Day on November 27 instead of December 1, acclaimed globally, Dr. Angela El-Adas, Director- General, Ghana AIDS Commission announced on Tuesday.

She explained that with the consent of President John Mahama as Chairman of the Ghana AIDS Council, the day had been moved to November 27 to make way for preparation of the all important December 7 general election.

Launching the day in Accra on the sub-theme: “Accelerating to Zero Together,” under the world theme: “Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV/Infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths,” Dr El-Adas said a month-long activity would be rolled out to culminate in a national durbar to be held in the Central Region.

She said despite advances that had been made globally and locally in national response to HIV in terms of treatment, care and support interventions, many people do not know their status while others do not know the facts about protecting themselves against the disease.

“Adults including pregnant women and babies are still dying of AIDS-related illness and we are still recording new infections,” she noted.

She said HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families also remain a reality though “our heart–to-heart ambassadors are breaking difficult grounds by sharing their experiences and intensifying education to demystify misconceptions and negative attitudes towards PLHIV”.

Dr. El-Adas said this year’s focus would be on revitalising efforts to create an enabling and supportive environment for the achievement of zero new infections, zero AIDS related deaths and zero discrimination by promoting acceptable attitudes towards PLHIVs, their families and key populations.

She indicated that attention would also be directed at community mobilisation to support the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. She stressed the need for the nation to accelerate efforts to promote country and community ownership of the response to HIV.

Mr. Girmay Haile, Country Director, UNAIDS said global annual rate of HIV infections had declined by more than 25 per cent over the last five to eight years while an estimated 6.6 million people in low and middle income countries are receiving antiretroviral therapy, a nearly 22-fold increase since 2001.

About nine million people in low and middle income countries who are eligible for antiretroviral treatment are not receiving them, while many people do not have access to adequate care services.

Mr. Haile commended Ghana’s efforts at achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, which had led to reductions in national HIV prevalence from 3.4 per cent in 2004 to approximately 1.5 per cent in 2011.

He stressed the need for the legal audit and assessment of HIV and AIDS related laws and policies in Ghana and the recent strategy for most-at-risk populations to be harnessed to contribute to the achieving zero AIDS related discriminations in Ghana.

Among activities to be undertaken during the celebration is national and regional talk shows on radio and television, nation-wide heart-to-heart caravan tour to galvanise regional and community support and sensitisation of the public on the benefit on HIV testing and counseling.

Alongside the launching which was held at the Obra Spot at Nkrumah Circle in Accra, was an HIV free counselling and testing for the public.

Mr Samuel Opoku, a team member of Ghana West Africa Programme to combat AIDs and Sexually Transmitted Infections said from 1000 to 1200 hours, 74 people from 20 and 50 years are testing their HIV status with a few of them proving positive.