Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), a national, community non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve the health and socio-economic status of women, children and young people through innovative and acceptable participatory strategies has called on government to improve the quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially the youth, and put in place strategies to empower them to take part in HIV response.
A statement issued by the organization on the commemoration of World AIDS Day, petitioned government to do this by, developing and implementing a proactive policy that ensures that people with HIV and AIDS are not left out of critical decision-making processes concerning their health due to stigma.
“We cannot as a country say we are achieving the 90-90-90 targets and ending AIDS by 2030 if adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana are left out of the critical decision-making processes concerning their health due to stigma. Young people need to be part of the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of HIV services and activities related to prevention, treatment, care and support of people affected by HIV,” the statement stated.
Among other demands, HFFG called on government to prioritize and increase domestic resources for health, invest in the general health of young people, especially in the face of continuous dwindling donor funding
According to HFFG, government can do this by, “helping in meeting our co-financing obligations and make adequate use of donor funds allotted to Ghana.”
HFFG also stated that Ghana has made progress in its HIV and AIDS response however, the recent slight surge in the disease among young people is a cause of worry.
With a national HIV prevalence of 1.69%, and an HIV population of 334,713 in 2018, data from the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) estimates that the adolescent HIV population (between10-19years) stood at 21,111, with an estimated 2,062 new HIV infections also recorded in 2018.
Despite this, lack of treatment literacy and dedicated adolescent-friendly services for those living with HIV/AIDS is a great worry for most of these adolescents living with HIV in Ghana. Again, despite intensive education and laudable zero-stigma initiatives in Ghana over the years, most of them continue to face gross discernment from a section of the population.
They further call on stakeholders in HIV/AIDS response to intensify their ways since the time has come for young people to be actively involved in the planning, development and implementation of HIV/AIDS interventions in Ghana.
