By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), Nov. 14, GNA – The Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) has inaugurated its Upper West Regional Committee to spearhead the national HIV and AIDS response in the region towards achieving its targets.
The nine-member Committee comprised the Upper West Regional Minister as the Chairperson, Regional Directors of the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service and the Regional Chairperson of NAP+ Ghana.
The rest were: representatives from the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Civil Society Organisations, Christian Council, Muslim and Ahmaddiyya Federation, and the Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, observed that the role of Committee was key in deepening decentralisation in the HIV and AIDS national response.
He said the Committee would ensure that the regional HIV and AIDS response was strategic, inclusive, and sustainable in advancing the national response.
According to the 2024 National and Sub-National HIV & AIDS Estimates and Projections, the region currently has about 6,318 people living with HIV (PLHIV), with 292 new infections and a 1.01 per cent prevalence rate.
The region’s ART coverage stood at 51.8 per cent, being the highest in the country, which the Regional Minister described as “a great feat”, but warned against complacency in the region’s HIV and AIDS interventions.
“Emerging trends show increasing cases in urban centres, and we continue to face setbacks from misinformation spread by self-styled pastors and traditional healers who discourage clients from adhering to treatment.
Equally worrying is the persistence of stigma and discrimination against persons living with or affected by HIV, a challenge that continues to undermine our collective progress”, Mr Puozuing, the Committee chairperson, said.
He stressed the need for sustained efforts by the Committee in facilitating behaviour change interventions to promote compassion for PLHIV and dispel HIV-related misinformation.
Dr. Josephat Nyuzaghl, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, reiterated the need for people to test and know their HIV status to enable them to benefit from the interventions to stay healthy.
He indicated that although the HIV prevalence rate in the country was low, there was a need for concerted efforts to eliminate the disease in the region and the country.
Mr Osei-Bonsu Gyamfi, the Upper West Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, indicated that Regional Committee was the highest decision-making body on HIV and AIDS-related issues in the region.
Mr Gyamfi appealed for increased government support to ensure the effective functioning of the Committee and the Regional Technical Support Unit.
Mr Dramani Abdul-Razak, the Regional Project Officer for Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), said the organisation recorded two cases of HIV among Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVPs) in the Wa Municipality from January to September 2025 out of 956 people tested.
He said they also distributed 69,096 condoms and 3,910 lubricants to people in the Municipality, particularly KVPs, as part of efforts in curbing the spread of HIV.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie