Lynda Arthur
Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and the Youth Action Movement, has called on Ghanaians to help eradicate HIV from the country.
As part of the collaboration, Johnson & Johnson will intensify its educational activities on HIV preventive measures.
The West Africa Director of Johnson & Johnson Regional Executives on Global Public Health, Madam Lynda Arthur, stated that although treatment for HIV was available, “we believe that the ideal world is one which is free from disease so that we don’t need the treatments in the first place.”
She was speaking at the 2017 Eastern Regional World AIDS Day celebration held in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
Madam Arthur added that initiatives such as education on prevention and advocacy message on treatment options were necessary, hence the collaboration.
According to her, Johnson & Johnson with the support of stakeholders had introduced innovative HIV medicines to patients and also supported the Ghana AIDS Commission with the development of an info-graphics and national communication strategy for the fast tracking of the Global 90-90-90 campaign.
Madam Arthur added that in addition to the awareness campaign, Johnson & Johnson was working with stakeholders in discovering an HIV vaccine to tackle the disease from both ends for prevention and treatment.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Know Your Status, Seek Early Treatment, Make HIV History’, the Acting Regional Director of National Youth Authority, Samuel Afari Agyiri, stated that the HIV prevalence in the region is relatively high with prevalence rate of 2.6 percent in 2016 and a national rate of 2.1 percent.
“This gloomy statistics require us to improve the knowledge of the youth about preventive healthcare and assist them to avoid practices such as engaging in early and irresponsible sexual activities, exposing them to the sexual transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV,” he said.
He disclosed that in view of this, the National Youth Authority Agency will partner with donor organisations and NGOs to train and deploy 500 peer providers and traditional condom distributors to provide counselling to the youth in the 26 districts, especially in the Lower Manya District, where the prevalence of the HIV is very high.
Eastern Regional Minister Eric Kwakye Darfour, on his part, lauded the efforts being made in the fight against HIV, particularly the platform provided for the youth to be educated on the menace.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua