Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, with funding from the US President’s emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has donated computers and hospital equipment worth Gh¢100, 000 to the Ghana Armed Forces of the 37 Military Hospital.

The items are to support the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to provide quality HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Services, for three years (December 2012 – December 2015), US Department for Defense (DOD) -funded program under PEPFAR implemented by Jhpiego Ghana.

Dr Angela El- Adas, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, lauded the US Government for the immense support to fighting the HIV menace, and explained that for Ghana’s HIV prevalence to reduce from 1.37 percent in 2012 to 1.30 percent at the end of 2013, was no mean accomplishment, and described it as “indeed significant.”

She commended the GAF for scaling up interventions, and working together with the Ghana AIDS Commission, the US Government and other stakeholders, to reduce the HIV prevalence in the country.

Colonel Mahama Alhassan, Director-General of Medical Services of the 37 Military Hospital, who received the items, commended Jhpiego, the US government, and the government of Ghana for their support, and assured that the items would be put to good use, as well as ensure their long-term maintenance.

The project’s goal is to contribute to GAF’s efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on GAF beneficiaries: soldiers, their families, the Ministry of Defence, civilian employees and local communities.

To date, the GAF has played an important role in HIV prevention, care and treatment. Jhpiego continues to help the GAF to continue to strengthen its role throughout the seven garrisons (Accra, Takoradi, Tamale, Tema, Kumasi, Ho and Sunyani).

To facilitate high quality of HIV care and treatment services at the 37 Military Hospital, Jhpiego conducted baseline assessment of HIV care and treatment services, using Standards-Based Management and Recognition (SBM-R) tool.

SBM-R is a practical management approach for improving the performance and quality of health care services, by improving the enabling environment and ownership, which include collaborating on policies, standards and monitoring and evaluation.