Bono Minister calls for collaboration to reduce new infections of HIV virus

The Bono Regional Minister Justina Owusu-Banahene has asked the youth and Ghanaians to adhere to the ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful and Condom use” of HIV to contribute to reducing new infections and charged policy implementers to up their game.

She said HIV/AIDS was still causing havoc in society and there was the need for broader stakeholder engagement and investments to help fight the disease in communities.

Justina Owusu-Banahene made the appeal during HIV/Aids review meeting organised for the technical support unit and focal persons in the Bono region on Thursday.

Justina Owusu-Banahene reiterated government’s commitment to UNAIDS’s 90-90-90 target of 90 percent of all people living with HIV knowing their status, 90 percent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receiving sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90 percent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy having viral suppression.

According to her, the outbreak of the covid-19 seemed to have overshadowed the education and awareness creation on HIV/AIDS in the communities and called on stakeholders to help promote sustainable education on the disease.

She commended development partners for sustaining the fight against HIV and reiterated the call on private sector players to join the fight against HIV, saying a healthy community is a productive community.

She expressed appreciation to efforts of GAC to collaborate with stakeholders in health to adopt effective strategies to ensure that key players in the fight against HIV/AIDS upgraded their knowledge and skills to deal with challenges confronting the pandemic.