Government Gives Approval To HIV/AIDS Funding- Chief of Staff Reveals
The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has revealed that the government has invested sufficient resources in order to achieve the global HIV and AIDS target by 2025 through effective stakeholder involvement and collaboration.
According to her, the Government of Ghana approved two memos presented by the Ministry of Finance after studying a report from the governing board of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAF).
These memos called for sustainable HIV/AIDS health financing reforms, including implementation of Ghana’s HIV domestic resource mobilization and sustainability strategy and the strengthening of public financial management.
She disclosed this to news men at the sideline of the event yesterday during the 13th HIV AIDS Partnership Forum held on 22nd October at the Alesa hotel in Accra.
Hon. Fremantle Osei said the theme “strengthening coordination and mutual accountability for accelerated and sustain impact of the national HIV response” was timely.
She pointed out that Government has supported GAF to control, develop and strategy plans that would strengthen Ghana’s HIV response; ensure effective, impactful, and sustained HIV epidemiological control efforts by 2025.
She indicated also that government has provided various technical support to GAF AIDS and STI Control Program to conceptualize, design, and implement activities to improve sustainable financing for HIV services and strengthen state-level capacity to effectively allocate and execute HIV funds.
This capacity strengthening in public financial management, combined with strong government commitment.
Following the approval of the various memos, Ministry of finance will work in close collaboration with state agencies for the control of AIDS, the Ministry of Health, domestic resource mobilization multisectoral technical working groups, civil society organizations, and HIV implementing partners, to implement the domestic resource mobilization strategy and strengthen public financial management and budget advocacy efforts.
This work will take place across Ghana’s 16 regions to improve government financing, reduce funding gaps, and ensure improved HIV outcomes and sustainability of Ghana’s HIV response.
The Director-General of Ghana AIDS commission, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene made mention of the fact that in the past years, the country was doing almost 70 per cent treatment coverage with the funds provided by the government or more, but as at last year, many of those who were on treatment had been lost.
By: Frank Owusu Obimpeh
