1st STAKEHOLDER MEETING ON STRENGTHENING HIV PROGRAMMING ORGANISED

The West Africa Aids Foundation [WAAF], a Civil Society Organization in the fight to combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ghana, has organized a stakeholders meeting on how to effectively cripple the menace.

The Stakeholders Meeting, the first of its kind held at the Teachers Hall in Accra and sponsored by STAR Ghana brought together participants from the health sector, Non Governmental and Civil Society Organizations' and the media to brainstorm on current trends in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other related transmitted diseases.

The Meeting also coupled with the WAAF's Project Launching dubbed '' Strengthening HIV programming for Most at Risk Populations[ MARPs] using ICT and Improving quality of treatment and care for People Living with HIVs through effective management''.

In her presentation, WAAF Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Naa Ashiley Vanderpuye-Donton, explained that her outfits since its inception in 1999 has been instrumental in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ghana by ways of prevention, treatment, economic enhancement, advocacy and stigma reduction.

According to her the Project which will run for two years [February 2013-February 2015] has the objectives to improve access to quality health care for all including the Most at Risk Populations [MARPs].

Among the strategies to be used for the project, she mentioned the use of audio conferencing platform to reach out to the target groups on health related matters (live conversation & interactive voice response - IVR).

She also mentioned the documenting of testimonials from target group on stigma encountered and the grading of service provider facilities (before and after) as well as the Integration of other activities dependant on identified gaps in the national response among the Project Strategies.

On the rationale behind the Stakeholders Meeting, the WAAF CEO noted that it is to provide an opportunity to form alliances and identify opportunities for collaboration during and beyond the two-year lifespan of the project.

The rationale is also an opportunity for invited organisations and participants to share experiences, resources and data that will be relevant to the Project and to also inform organisations working in the area of HIV about WAAF's project aims.

On his part Dr. Nii Addo of the Ghana Health Service touched on some major gaps in the provision of health care services to vulnerable groups. He mentioned data collection as a major gap in the provision of health care to the poor and vulnerable.

He also mentioned lack of effective legislation to protect those willing to provide information voluntarily, lack of adequate funding which is key to driving and addressing the gap as some major gaps in the provision of health care to the vulnerable in the society.

He emphasized that new laws have to be enacted by those in authority for people to be able to report any abuse or provide information voluntarily.

He also proposed for the effective dissemination of outcomes of such HIV/AIDS forums to help educate the people on current trends in the provision of health care to HIV/AIDS victims as well as to chart the way forward.

Dr. Nii Addo further indicated that HIV issue is no more an issue of health alone but rather a developmental issue which needs to be tackled collectively by health workers, politicians, None and Civil Society Organisations, religious bodies amongst others.

The Health expert further disclosed that HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country within the last decade is dwindling which he attributed to a lot of reforms and mechanisms put in place.

He called on Civil Society and Non Governmental Organisations, Religious and Corporate Bodies amongst others to also come on board to complement the efforts being exerted by the health sector and the Government in the fight against HIV and other human infected transmitted diseases.

He is optimistic that the major gaps identified if well tackled and strengthened, HIV prevalence in Ghana will continue to decline. '' We as health workers will continue to collaborate with WAAF and other NGOs in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country'' he stated.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Eddie Donton, the WAAF Chairman, describes HIV issues as important issues which need to be given the needed attention. He urged the media not to only disseminate information on HIV but to continue to collaborate with them as partners in the fight against the menace in the country.