PPAG Rated Ghana’s Best Performer With The Global Fund Project

The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) has been rated Ghana’s best principal recipients of the global fund for scoring 66% due to referral of HIV positive inmates to access treatment in the hospitals.

Dr. Joseph Amuzu, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a 5 days global fund review meeting with zonal officers from three zones across the country including officers of Theatre for change, an NGO serving as a sub-recipient on the PPAG’s HIV/AIDS programme within the prisons in Accra.

Commenting on the PPAG’s record over the period, Dr. Amuzu declared PPAG as scoring 66% of referral of HIV positive inmates to access treatment in the hospitals.

He revealed: “though 100% was desirable, this however represents a brilliant performance of the project, resulting in PPAG being one of Ghana’s Principal Recipients (PR) to implement the New Funding Model (NFM) of the Global Fund starting this July 2015”.

According to the Executive Director of PPAG, 3 out of the 4 main indicators reported to the Global fund scored over 100%. This, according to him indicates that all prison inmates were reached with HIV preventive programs, HIV testing and counseling (HTC) including all advocacy meetings observed.

With the New Funding Model (NFM), he indicated that it provides an opportunity to expand PPAG’s HIV activities from 35 prisons to all 43 prisons in the country.

Dr. Amuzu lauded the Prisons authorities for their unflinching support towards the project but however was quick to note that despite every attempt to improve upon their services, there’s remain some lapses within the prison yards which ought to be address immediately.

Some of these challenges he mentioned included: the refurbishment of the clinics in the prison, lack of medicines to treat the sick prisoners as well as the availability of ambulance to convey the sick inmates to the hospitals on daily basis which is also lacking.

“The clinics in the prisons need refurbishment, they need medicines to treat the sick prisoners and the medical staff requires periodic refresher training. More importantly the prisons also need vehicles to transport sick inmates to the hospitals”

He therefore called on philanthropists as well as corporate organizations to come to the aid of the prisoners by providing them with medical equipment and vehicles so they can enjoy a proper healthcare delivery at all times.

The 5 days forum will discuss some of the key challenges encountered during the phase 2 of the HIV/AIDS programme being undertaken by PPAG and its partners within 35 prisons in 9 regions across the country.

It also sought to highlight the successes chalked under the project so far with the aim of formulating a more efficient strategy towards improving upon its sustainability.

The phase 1 of the Global fund project was implemented between 2010 and 2011 which saw HIV activities implemented among the general population and 6 prisons in the country.

The Phase two started in the year 2013 to 2014 and later extended to 30^th June, 2015.

Among activities undertaken under the phase two of the project includes; Hygiene kits distribution (tooth paste & brushes and razor blades) to inmates, Peer education among inmates, Distribution of information, education and communication materials, HIV testing and counseling of inmates and Prison authorities engagements through advocacy meeting.

There were also drama performances by the prisoners themselves in the prisons and film shows.

Meanwhile, Mr. Albert Wuddah-Martey, PPAG Director of Programmes has expressed satisfaction over his outfit being touted as a high rate performer among others principal recipients of the Global Fund.

He said PPAG has been rated for the whole exercise as A1, which means they have performed creditably after the submission of their receipts which went through programmatic and financial review indicating about over 90 percent mark depicting a successful execution of project.

“So far based on this review, we are still an A1 rated and based on that and other achievements the global fund is ready to work with us as a principal recipient for the new funding model” he hinted.

He observed the next phase of the project which will end in December, 2017 will include National Tuberculosis control program alongside the HIV/AIDS which will also witness some inmates undergoing training in different modules to match up to the task.

The four principal recipients of the Global Fund in Ghana are the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana Health Service under the National AIDS Control Program, ADRA Ghana and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG).

The 5 days Global Fund review meeting is being organized by PPAG and supported by the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and malaria.