Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV— First Lady calls for intensive efforts
The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has called for intensive efforts towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
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She said although the country had made some progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, there were some challenges that could overturn the successes.
She mentioned, for instance, that some traditions and customs which still persisted in some communities made it difficult for women to take personal decisions on matters of their reproductive health, for fear of stigmatisation and non-acceptance by partners.
Mrs Mahama made these remarks in Cape Coast in the Central Region last Saturday during the launch of a campaign on HIV and AIDS, cervical and breast cancers.
Through the mobilisation of communities, the campaign, organised by the Ghana Chapter of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) and the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), seeks to educate and advocate more attention and resources to address the burden of HIV, cervical and breast cancers in Ghana.
Mrs Mahama is the Premier Ambassador of the UNAIDS Global Plan of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and first Vice President of OAFLA.
The campaign
The campaign, which had already been launched in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region and Shama in the Western Region, is aimed at empowering women to take charge of their reproductive health needs.
It is also intended to complement the government’s efforts to attain zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths in 2015 and beyond.
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As part of the programme, residents benefitted from free screening for breast and cervical cancers, syphilis, HIV testing and counselling.
Mrs Mahama said there was the need for intensive public education to reduce breast and cervical cancers, adding that she was obliged to promote PMTCT.
She said despite some challenges, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission services had been integrated into sexual and reproductive health services, as part of the five-year strategic plan of the GAC to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
According to the 2013 National HIV Prevalence and AIDS Estimates and the HIV Sentinel Survey (HSS) reports, 11,682 mothers needed prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMCT) services.
The report also indicated that prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics reduced from 2.1 per cent in 2012 to 1.9 per cent in 2013.
The first lady pledged her commitment to work with all stakeholders to ensure the success of the advocacy programme for the attainment of 'zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths in 2015 and beyond.
Commendation
On cervical cancer, the First Lady indicated that Ghana had intensified its prevention by introducing the human-papilloma virus vaccine in some districts, adding that she was hopeful that it would soon be extended to other districts.
In his address, the President of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwasi Atta II, who chaired the ceremony, said a high level of commitment was needed to ensure the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and therefore commended the First Lady for the initiative.
He also commended the Ghana AIDS Commission and the National AIDS Control Programme for working to reduce the HIV prevalence rate from 4.7 per cent 2011 to 1.1 per cent in 2013 in the Central Region.