[ 2012-04-26 ]

Government gives GH˘150m AIDS Commission
Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, has announced
the release of GH˘150 million to the Ghana AIDS
Commission for the elimination of Mother-To-Child
Transmission (MTCT) of HIV in Ghana by 2015.

The Vice President made the announcement when he
opened a 2-day HIV summit in Accra.

Government is supporting the ADIS Commission’s
projects including the provision of antiretroviral
drugs for mothers during pre-natal and post-natal
periods to prevent paediatric HIV infection and
reduce maternal deaths.

Antiretroviral drugs lower maternal blood and
genital viral load during the treatment of
infected mothers.

Chief of the Paediatric, Adolescent and Maternal
AIDS Branch of the USA, Lynne Mofenson, said
trials of the antiretroviral drugs in seven
developing countries have yielded significant
results in the prevention of MTCT.

She explains pre-natal and post-natal
interventions using antiretroviral regimens have
become necessary to fight the infection since
prolonged breastfeeding doubles the risk of
transmission.

Professor Tim Flanigan of Brown University, USA,
disclosed a pre service curriculum is being
developed for the University of Ghana Medical
School to properly equip students with the right
knowledge of HIV treatment to better address the
situation as practitioners.

The summit brought together academicians,
researchers, practitioners and activists to
discuss strategies for the elimination of
mother-to- child-transmission of HIV in Ghana by
2015.

Source - Joy News Television

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