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13.02.2012 Press Statement

Ghana AIDS Commission plans HIV Fair as it celebrates 10 years

By Ghana AIDS Commission
Ghana AIDS Commission plans HIV Fair as it celebrates 10 years
13.02.2012 LISTEN

[Accra, February 13, 2012]… The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) will this month organize an HIV & AIDS Fair in Accra as part of activities to commemorate its tenth anniversary celebration.

“The aim of the fair among others is to help increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in the country”, a statement signed by Director General Dr. Angela El Adas explained.

Since its establishment in February 2002, the Commission has been working with multiple and diverse stakeholders and partners, towards universal access and the attainment of the health related millennium development goals- MDG 4, 5 & 6. It is currently implementing the third 5-year National HIV Strategic Plan (NSP 2011-2015).

The statement noted that the Fair, which will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre from February 21 to 24, will coincide with the visit to Ghana by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe.

The theme for the Fair is 'A decade of active partnerships towards elimination of HIV: optimizing a sustainable response' and according to Dr. El-Adas, the theme reflects the activities of the Commission over the period.

“We have through effective coordination, fund mobilization, policy development, management and strategic partnerships, relatively stabilized the HIV epidemic and today, Persons living with the virus (PLHIV) have remarkable improvement in their health status and standard of living”, she noted.

The current adult HIV prevalence among the general population has stabilized at 1.5%.

Vice President John Mahama who has been chairing the activities of the Commission on behalf of the President will officially open the HIV/AIDS Fair on February 21st.

Other activities planned for the 10th anniversary celebrations include a Youth Forum, Strategic Business meeting with Partners, Athletics with stakeholders & implementers and other activities that will culminate into the commemoration of World AIDS Day at the Regional and National levels in December.

The Ghana AIDS Commission is a supra-ministerial and multi-sectoral body established under the Chairmanship of H. E. the President of the Republic of Ghana by Act 613, of Parliament. Its mandate is to provide support, guidance and leadership for the national response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

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