Government gives GH¢150m AIDS Commission

Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, has announced the release of GH¢150 million to the Ghana AIDS Commission for the elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV in Ghana by 2015.

The Vice President made the announcement when he opened a 2-day HIV summit in Accra.

Government is supporting the ADIS Commission's projects including the provision of antiretroviral drugs for mothers during pre-natal and post-natal periods to prevent paediatric HIV infection and reduce maternal deaths.

Antiretroviral drugs lower maternal blood and genital viral load during the treatment of infected mothers.

Chief of the Paediatric, Adolescent and Maternal AIDS Branch of the USA, Lynne Mofenson, said trials of the antiretroviral drugs in seven developing countries have yielded significant results in the prevention of MTCT.

She explains pre-natal and post-natal interventions using antiretroviral regimens have become necessary to fight the infection since prolonged breastfeeding doubles the risk of transmission.

Professor Tim Flanigan of Brown University, USA, disclosed a pre service curriculum is being developed for the University of Ghana Medical School to properly equip students with the right knowledge of HIV treatment to better address the situation as practitioners.

The summit brought together academicians, researchers, practitioners and activists to discuss strategies for the elimination of mother-to- child-transmission of HIV in Ghana by 2015.