HIV/AIDS to get 15 per cent budget allocation

That the threat pose by the dreaded HIV/AIDS is real is a forgone conclusion. The pandemic remains a big threat to the economic, political and social development of all countries especially those of sub-Saharan Africa.

Ghana although has some of the very low cases of HIV/AIDS in Africa is determined to deal with the situation before it assumes an alarming rate. The Ghanaian government has therefore announced its decision to allocate 15 per cent of its annual budget to the health sector for the combat of the pandemic.

President John Kufuor announced this when he addressed the 26th Special Session of the UN General Assembly on HIV/AIDS in New York.

Kufuor said poverty, underdevelopment and illiteracy have been identified as the major causes challenges to an effective HIV/AIDS response in developing countries.

He therefore called on the Special Session to resolve to assist development countries to implement internationally agreed strategies to eradicate the handicaps. The President asked for international co-operation and solidarity with Africa in the combat against HIV/AIDS.

Kufuor called for debt relief, acceleration of the enhanced HIPC Initiative, the reversal of the declining levels of official development assistant for countries and the private sector.

President Kufuor expressed the hope that the Session would address the issue of accessibility and affordability of essential drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa and the promotion and the protection of their rights.

"The international community should further ensure that global trade policies are used more effectively to increase access to care and treatment and should also encourage access to care and treatment in research on the development of vaccines", the President said.

Kufuor promised to provide his personal leadership for Ghana's national programme and to work with all involved in the global fight until success is achieved.

He expressed the hope that the declaration of commitment to be adopted by the Session will be backed by the required political will and the spirit of international solidarity for its effective implementation to give hope to those infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS.