412 Armed Forces staff receive training in HIV
Four hundred and twelve Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) staff members have received training in HIV testing and counselling, reduction of stigma and discrimination in Accra.
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They were also schooled on infection control, provision of supportive supervision to health staff at all the seven garrisons in Accra, Takoradi, Tamale, Tema, Kumasi, Ho and Sunyani.
The training was part of a programme designed to support GAF in providing quality HIV and AIDS prevention and care services to staff members and their families.
The three-year United States Department of Defense programme, funded under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), started in January 2013. The project was implemented with technical support from Jhpiego in partnership with GAF.
Launching a 19-page booklet, GAF HIV and AIDS Strategy, at the closing ceremony of the training programme in Accra, the Commanding Officer of the 37 Military Hospital, Col. (Dr) Samuel Kwame Adjei, lauded Jhpiego and collaborating institutions for coming out with the blueprint for managing HIV and AIDS in the seven garrisons.
The strategy highlights HIV prevention, particularly mother-to-child transmission, slashing new infections by 50 per cent, and combating mortality and morbidity in the next three years of its implementation.
Project Goal
The project’s goal was to contribute to GAF’s efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on soldiers, their families, and civilians.
It also focused on strengthening HIV and AIDS prevention and care services at the seven garrisons by supporting GAF to effectively manage quality HIV and AIDS programming, increase access to HIV prevention and care services to its beneficiaries and improve GAF’s laboratory capacity to test for HIV.
The project has developed an HIV/AIDS strategy to guide the implementation of the programme, as well as put in place initiatives to reduce gender-based violence, stigma and discrimination. In addition, the project has supported progress towards the international accreditation of the laboratory at the 37 Military Hospital.
The closing ceremony held at Burma Hall, Burma Camp in Accra, was attended by high military ranking officers, officers, men, civilians, key project stakeholders and partners.
To achieve its objectives, the project used a number of approaches such as developing standards for HIV care and treatment services at the military hospital, enhancing the strategic information available to GAF for decision-making and also developing and certifying a pool of master trainers at GAF training centres and health facilities.