Stakeholders not doing enough in the fight against HIV/AIDS

IN SPITE of the recent scary revelations by the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams that about 10,000 people in the region were living with HIV/AIDS work on the disease in the region remains relegated to the background, and strategies are poorly coordinated and incoherent, as stakeholders virtually are non-existent, as long as external funding does not come.

This is, according to the Regional Manager of Action-Aid Ghana (AAG), Mr. Michael Lumor, was because the era of GarFund saw many challenges, ranging from non-existence community-based organisations (CBOs), portfolio non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and unaccountable beneficiary individuals and organisations.

This not withstanding, the period realised about a 95% awareness level of HIV across the country. Speaking at a day's meeting with stakeholders in HIV/AIDS in the region, held here in Bolgatanga on Tuesday, Mr. Lumor said the Multi-Sectoral HIV and AIDS Response Programme (MSHARP), which is a framework expected to improve upon GarFund, was similarly plagued with implementation challenges, the lack of transparency in the selection of intermediary organisations, lack of downward accountability by intermediaries, poor knowledge of some intermediaries about their areas of operations, and many more that led to poor targeting and further impoverishment of people affected by the pandemic.

It would be recalled that on the occasion of this year's World AIDS Day, Dr. Awoonor-Williams revealed that out of the 10,000 people living with the disease, health records in the region showed that the HIV prevalence rate was 2.0 %, thus exceeding the national prevalence rate of 1.7%.

According to Mr. Lumor, it was as a result of the need to begin a dialogue process towards having a coherent attempt at dealing with the pandemic, that his outfit held the meeting with municipal and district focal persons from within the region.

He stressed that as long as the pandemic was not being addressed in a more coherent and sustainable manner, good works may not be realising their maximum impacts.

It was therefore important that all the stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS take the dialogue process serious, and be committed to agreements made for them to deliver on their various mandates.

The Divisional Chief of Bura-Kaziga in Paga, Parikari Thomas Asankyera Aluah I, who was also a participant, announced that his kingdom had involved women in its traditional council.

This now offers women an opportunity in their decision-making process, thus enhancing their participation in the fight against violation of their basic rights.

The Regional HIV/AIDS Control Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Angyogdem, said his out was targeting at testing over 1,000 people in the region, and urged the public to take advantage of the ongoing free HIV test in the region.