Funding impeding HIV treatment (Graphic Business)

Tuesday, June 29, 2010



CONSULTANTS engaged by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) have identified inadequate funding for anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy and declining government allocation for treatment of HIV as a key challenge.
The group indicated that resources for implementation of HIV prevention activities reduced from 39 per cent in 2005 to 12 per cent in 2007 and then increased to 22 per cent in 2008.
They also reminded the government that the high donor support which went into the provision of ARV, was scheduled to cease by the end of 2011, and therefore called for adequate local assistance to sustain the gains so far made.
These came out in Accra during a meeting organised by the GAC and other stakeholders to disseminate the findings of a review of the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework (NSF 11) which covered the period between 2006 and 2010 . The objective of the meeting was to assess the extent to which the goals and objectives of the framework was achieved, among other things.
The findings were presented by the consultants led by Dr Hugues Lago. Others were Dr Yao Yeboah, Dr Kwabena Poku, Dr Agnes Dzokoto and Dr William Bosu.
Specific areas that the study looked at were: Coordination and management of the decentralised multi-sectoral response; prevention and mitigation; treatment, care and support; research, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation as well as policy, advocacy and enabling environment.
The findings of the joint review indicated that significant inputs contributed to commendable progress in the national HIV response. However, there existed some challenges that impeded the level of achievement of the expected outcome.
The report indicated that although Ghana had stabilised generalised HIV epidemic, however there were significant regional, district and district variations.
It also touched on lack of gender specific goals, outcomes and indicators, inadequate dissemination and the use of the 2006 national strategic framework.
The study indicated facilities for the provision of anti-retroviral (ARV) services had increased from 13 in 2005 to 138 in 2009.
In addition, the number of people living with HIV (PLHIVs) who have been put on ARV have increased from 6,736 in December 2006, to 31,977 in December 2009.
The group, therefore, recommended that the development of the new framework, NFS 111 that will operate between 2011 and 2015 should take into account efforts to sustain and scale-up the effective strategies and also address identified challenges.
According to the study, all though there had been some level of political commitment and leadership, that has not been fully translated into action, especially in the area of provision of resources.
“The degree of involvement of policy makers throughout the policy formulation and dissemination process is limited”, the report indicated.
The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yiele Chireh advised Ghanaians not to politicise the issue of HIV and AIDS since the epidemic had no political colour but could affect any body.
He asked the various district assemblies to make available the 0.5 per cent of the common fund meant for HIV and AIDS prevention programmes adding that the government would ensure that there were resources available to continue with HIV and AIDS prevention activities.
The acting Director General of the GAC, Dr Angela El-Adas said the development, monitoring and evaluation of the NSF was a significant accomplishment of the country’s HIV and AIDS response adding that it represented the second phase of a coordinated national response to HIV and AIDS.
She expressed the hope that the findings and recommendations from the joint review duly informed the next framework meant to cover 2011 and 2015 and expressed the hope that adequate recourses would be made available for future programmes.
Speaking on behalf of the development partners, the Country Coordinator of UNAIDS, Dr Leo Zekeng reiterated the commitment of the partners and gave the assurance of their continues support to Ghana, both financially and technically.
The chairperson for the occasion, Nana Oye Lithur commended the GAC and the other stakeholders for coming out with the study and urged them to continue with the good work which was started years ago.