On The Joint Celebration Of National Farmers Day And World AIDS Day, 2017

We have marked an important day in the lives of many Ghanaians and the world at large. Coincidentally, a day reserved for WORLD AIDS DAY and NATIONAL FARMERS DAY celebration nationwide.

National Farmers Day recognizes and appreciates our gallant farmers for their continued support and contribution towards nation building.

Similarly, World Aids Day is celebrated to share in the pain and suffering of the numerous people who might have died, affected or infected with HIV and AIDS or left behind as orphans and vulnerable in society.

On this memorable day, the National Population Council (NPC) congratulates all and sundry for honouring the day and those joining in the celebration. This event is expected to mark the beginning of our efforts at demonstrating a commitment to placing the farmer in a strategic position. The integration of World Aids Day and National Farmer’s Day is defined and operationalized by three overlapping areas, farmer as beneficiary; partner and agent of change in the family and community they operate. In providing service via treatment, care, and support to people living with HIV and AIDS.

From the traditional view, measurement of a nation’s healthy population had been two-fold, life expectancy and mortality. Today life expectancy and mortality have dropped lower than it was five decades ago. Thanks to gains in knowledge, improved health, water, and sanitation among others.

Poor health has clearly been identified as a key dimension to poverty as it turns to reduce household savings and investments, productivity and leads to diminishing quality of life. It is, therefore, true to argue that poverty and environment are mutually reinforcing and that poor people are both agents and victims of environmental degradation.

The interrelationship between human numbers and their environment is neither obvious nor simple. If left unchecked, that complex connection between human population and their environment will result in large-scale environmental degradation. This comes at a cost, but huge.

However, in the Western Region, this connection is being jeopardized as a result of high population growth. Population in the Western Region has increased from 1.9 million in 2000 to 2.3million in 2010 and still counting. High fertility is preferred as the average person gives birth to 4 children. Population growth is expected to increase further with, harbour expansion, railway development, exploitation of oil and gas and the mining sector. This clearly indicates that food security is threatened.

Profiling HIV prevalence in the Region reveals an increase from 1.9 in 2011 to 2.5 in 2016. Whiles the national rate stands at 2.4 however, the most affected was the 15-49 group with the peak between 25-34 years.Within Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, HIV prevalence increased from 2.8 in 2015 to 3.0 in 2016. This is alarming and calls for early intervention mechanisms to halt or reverse the trend.

Although Family Planning programmes do have considerable effect in reducing HIV and AIDS infection, maternal mortality and bring down fertility rates, usage of contraception remains low. Currently, only 23% of the population is using any modern contraception method, below the Regional target of 30%. Consequently, total fertility rate is higher among the rural poor.

NPC is of the view that considering the following will go a long way to put Ghana and the Region on an accelerated path of development.

Expanding access to family planning information and services will reduce considerably unsafe abortion, high population growth and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS

Health sector reforms take into consideration the integration of family planning into the NHIS

Enhance community involvement in the management of forest resources whiles at the same time taking farmers through land and water management techniques.

NPC salutes all those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS

NPC says Ayekoo to all farmers especially the award winners.

Thank you.
Frank Ofosu- Asante
National Population Council
Western Region