The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring sustainable financing for Ghana’s health sector, particularly in the ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS.
Speaking at the launch of the National HIV Response Sustainability Roadmap, Dr. Lartey said the initiative demonstrates government’s determination to take full responsibility for funding and sustaining HIV programmes in the country.
“The roadmap is a clear signal that the government is taking full responsibility for financing and sustaining HIV programmes,” she stated.
Dr. Lartey emphasized the urgent need for Ghana to develop reliable internal funding mechanisms to reduce dependence on external donors.
“We need to look at the issue of sustainability seriously, especially sustainable financing of our health sector, particularly HIV and AIDS in Ghana,” she said.
“It’s not just about going out there and having other sources of funding available to work on AIDS or HIV programmes. It is about us looking within and mobilizing nationally to ensure that whatever comes from outside will be an add-on.”
She called on government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to work collaboratively to ensure that the roadmap achieves its objectives.
Recent data from UNAIDS underscores the urgency of the situation. The agency estimates that about 354,000 people in Ghana are currently living with HIV, representing a prevalence rate of 1.66%. In 2024 alone, more than 15,000 new infections were recorded, with young women aged 15 to 24 being the most affected group.
Describing the statistics as deeply concerning, Dr. Lartey urged all stakeholders to intensify public education, prevention, and treatment efforts, while ensuring that financial sustainability becomes a central pillar of Ghana’s national HIV response.
“The fight against HIV is not only about treatment, it is about sustainability, prevention, and protection of our most vulnerable, especially our young women and children,” she concluded.
Read More @ ATLFMNEWS.COM
Source: Frederick Kofi Thompson-Quartey/ATLFMNEWS
