Involve HIV communities in programmes targeted at them
John Snow Incorporated (JSI), a non-governmental organisation, has stressed the need for HIV communities, especially the youth, to be involved in the design and implementation of the programmes intended to serve them.
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JSI said from HIV prevention to treatment, service delivery was best when it was person-centred.
The Senior Communications Advisor, USAID Strengthening the Care Continuum Project, JSI, Richard Adupong, said this in an interview in Accra with Graphic Online after their participation in the just-ended International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2023 held from December 4 to 9, in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The conference, which was attended by institutions and persons concerned with fighting HIV including experts, policy makers, key HIV populations, pharmaceutical companies that are into the manufacture of HIV medications was on the theme, "AIDS is not over: address inequalities, accelerate inclusion and innovation ".
Ghana's delegation to the conference which included officials from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana AIDS Commission, JSI and the Ghana office of the World Health Organization was led by the National AIDS/STI Control Programme.
"JSI staff were thrilled to join the ICASA to focus on ending HIV as a public health threat. From engaging sessions, insightful posters and thoughtful conversations at our booth, these are some of our main takeaways," he explained.
Mr Adupong said understanding the social and behavioural dynamics of communities affected by HIV was imperative for effective and enduring change.
He said programme sustainability must not be an afterthought.
He mentioned some of the presentations the JSI team made at ICASA 2023 to include, the impact of the men's clinic initiative as a differentiated service delivery model; strengthening key population data reporting in Ghana; addressing gender-based violence within the context of HIV services and person-centred care service delivery in HIV treatment settings.
HIV achievements
On their achievements in Ghana, he said, JSI as part of its health system strengthening through the USAID Care Continuum Project, has donated 86 high-grade hospital beds, 58 motorbikes, two prefabricated office units utilised as centers for HIV counseling and service delivery, two vehicles, 10 refurbished vehicles, and ICT equipment to health facilities, districts, and regional health directorates.
Mr Adupong said the project reached and provided HIV testing to 363,451 people between October 2019 and June 2023, of which 14,441 were diagnosed HIV positive; 13,816 were linked to treatment, and 89 per cent achieved viral suppression.
For key populations, he said, the project reached and tested 16,747 people, 1,703 were diagnosed HIV positive, 1,584 were put on treatment, and 91 per cent achieved viral suppression.
"Through the project’s back to care campaign, the team brought more than 10,000 people living with HIV who interrupted treatment in the Western, Western North, and Ahafo regions back to care," he said.
