Whilst the global trends in the incidence of HIV seem to be on the decline – 0.40 to 0.26 per 1000 uninfected people, the figure for women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana has been on the increase -0.58 per 1000 uninfected people.
Containing the scourge in the part of the world has been made difficult by the level of stigmatization of victims. Recent studies reveal, even worse trends with the emergence of in new infections (12,000 new infections in 2015 to 20,148 in 2016).
The increasing trends in HIV cases, especially in Ghana’s Greater Accra region underpins the partnership between USAID’s Strengthening the Care Continuum project, led by the John Snow Inc. (JSI. And Hope For Future Generations (HFFG), a non-governmental organization focused on giving equal opportunities to women, children and young people.
What we are doing to fight HIV
HFFG essentially works with key stakeholders including the Ghana Health Service, The Population Council, Ministry of Health (MOH), Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice CHRAJ to lessen challenges faced by key populations (KPs) in dealing with high levels of stigma and discrimination in dealing with their status.
In stemming the increasing tide in HIV incidences, HFFG seeks to encourage positive behaviours and access to key information by sex workers as well as provide friendly services and comprehensive HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) for practitioners. , HFFG has been working with to bring life-saving interventions to key populations affected by this disease.
The overall goal of the project is to reduce by 50% the number of new HIV infections among female sex workers (FSWs) and persons living with HIV (PLHIV) by the end of 2020 by:
1) Increasing availability and access to comprehensive prevention, care and treatment services, including reliable coverage across the continuum of care for FSWs and PLHIVs in the Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions of Ghana.
2) Enhancing and sustaining demand for services among FSWs and PLHIVs
3) Strengthening the linkage and retention in care of FSWs who test positive for HIV