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The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), in collaboration with its partners, has launched a Strategic Human Rights Plan for HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) services for 2020 to 2024.
The virtual launch of the document was carried out in Accra by Dr. Mokowa Blay Adu-Gyamfi, Presidential Adviser on HIV, in direct response to the GAC Law 2016 (Law 938), which was launched in 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, inconsistent with current HIV and AIDS policy as well as global best practices.
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi said that a surprising innovation in the Law were the Non-Discrimination Sections that addressed the human rights problems of people living with HIV (PLHIV), and also people considered to be at high risk of TB and HIV infection, often called Key Vulnerable Population (KVP).
She said the document is a comprehensive response to these human rights-related barriers to HIV and TB services, which would eliminate all forms of inequalities, including stigmatization and discrimination in sectors such as health, education and the system. of Justice.
He praised the GAC and its stakeholders, acknowledging its sustained efforts, and said that the new Plan was expected to be implemented to realize universal access aspirations, leaving no one behind in the provision of HIV and TB services.
He took the opportunity to appeal to the public to adhere to COVID-19 prevention practices of wearing their face masks; regularly wash your hands with soap under running water; observing social or physical distancing; Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and stay home as much as possible to stop the spread of the virus.
Mr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, said the Global Goals regarding the UNAIDS Model recommended that countries work to prevent new HIV infections, to achieve less than 500,000 by 2020 and less than 200,000 by 2030.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and adherence support should be increased to achieve the 90-90-90 target by 2020, and 95-95-95 by 2030, while reducing stigma and discrimination (towards zero discrimination for 2020, maintained until 2030), he said.
Atuahene said the “90-90-90” goals were being hampered by human rights-related barriers, including stigma and discrimination; negative social attitudes; legal obstacles; intimidation by law enforcement agencies and negative attitudes of health professionals towards KVPs, although HIV persisted as a public health problem.
He said that the guiding principles of the document were based on the premise of “leaving no one behind”, therefore emphasizing the availability, accessibility, acceptability and excellent services that include medical care and social justice, non-discrimination, equality, respect for privacy, confidentiality, personal dignity and autonomy, and ensuring meaningful participation and accountability for KVPs.
The goal was to remove all barriers, including gender-based services, to HIV and tuberculosis and to improve access to quality health services and support through pragmatic implementation strategies.
The Plan, he said, included six strategic objectives, which seek, among other things, to coordinate human rights interventions and advocate for the reform of laws, regulations and policies relevant to diseases and barriers to care services, and to eliminate all forms of stigma. and discrimination directed at all KVPs.
The Rev. Jacob Asare, Acting Chairman of the NAP + Steering Committee, said the document was a turning point for Ghana as it shows a commitment to align all interventions related to HIV and TB services, leading to a more conscious and intentional integration of Human Rights activities. , from the conceptualization of the project to its implementation until its evaluation ”.
He said it also marked a new era of sustainability to end stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS and TB, ensuring their elimination as threats to public health by 2030, which should be a shared responsibility agenda for all. stakeholder services, through engagement and ownership. .
Ms Angela Trenton-Mbonde, UNAIDS Country Director for Ghana, praised the country for the many advances made to ensure the good health of its population, saying that the Strategic Plan was of high quality and could serve as a model for others countries.
He called for a coherent and timely implementation of the document, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and its concomitant effect on societies, and promised UNAIDS support in its implementation.
Dr. Isaac Lartey Annan, Director of the Department of Human Rights, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, said that CHRAJ will adopt the document for its Work Plan, but proposed that in the medium to long term, there should be greater defense with key justice players involving the President of Justice, the police and the Ghana Health Service.
Source: GNA
