PEPFAR IMPLORES MEDIA PRACTITIONERS TO PRIORITISE HIV AND AIDS RELATED ISSUES.

The United States (US) President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Media Specialist at the US Embassy in Accra, Miss Dzid Enyonam Kwami, has urged media practitioners to prioritise HIV and AIDS related issues.

She said the various stakeholder institutions in Ghana have come far as a nation in relation to the management of HIV, and must endeavour to place premium on reducing contraction and ensuring proper management of the disease.

According to Miss Kwami, the media's role as agenda setters globally cannot be underestimated if the country have to reach the global goal of 95 - 95 - 95. 

"That goal is to have 95 percent of persons with HIV testing to know their status, 95 percent of those who tested positive being rolled on to treatment and then 95 percent of those in treatment attaining viral suppression" she indicated. 

It is worrying to note that figures from the 2022 National and Sub - National HIV and AIDS Estimates and Projections Report in Ghana, by the Ghana AIDS Commission, indicates that a whopping 4,610 young adults (15-24 years), were infected with HIV in 2022.

In Ghana, the young adult population (15-24 years) account for 11 per cent of the 354,927 People Living With HIV (PLWA), 28 per cent of the 16,574 new HIV infections, and eight (8) per cent of the 9,3 related deaths.

The Media Specialist stated these on Thursday at a training workshop for Journalists in Ahafo region, organised by PEPFAR, in collaboration with the African Centre for Development Reporting (ACEDEV), and the Tano North Municipal Assembly, at Duayaw - Nkwanta. 

Miss Kwame encouraged the beneficiary media practitioners to consciously make space in their media outlets for public sensitisation of HIV - related issues, for the socio - economic growth of the country.

She stressed that more action is needed in the country if the investment to curbing HIV would achieve the needed results, and that will depend on the media giving out accurate information. 

The Media Specialist said in a competitive media environment where politics dominate the discussions, the media should still make room for important issues that affect people's survival and good life especially HIV and AIDS.

"PEPFAR for the 20 years has contributed to the reduction of mother - to - child -transmission with over 1.1 million children, being born without the virus even though their mothers had the disease" she stated.

The Workshop's Lead Trainer, Kingsley Obeng - Kyereh, acknowledged that though media houses in Ghana face immense challenges in raising funds to support their work, it should not prevent them from looking at issues that concern the welfare of residents. 

Mr Obeng - Kyereh stressed that accurate knowledge and use of journalistic skills that enhance reports on HIV, will attract the needed audience and convince people to take the necessary action to support the test and treatment campaigns. 

PEPFAR, which was launched by Former US President George W. Bush, is a United States government initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and help save the lives of those suffering from the disease.

PEPFAR's activities focuses on expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care interventions which include provision of anti - retroviral treatment, pre - exposure prophylaxis,voluntary male circumcision, condom use, and other conditions related to HIV services.

Over the past two decades, the PEPFAR has saved millions of lives as a leader in the global response to HIV. As a key implementing agency of PEPFAR, Center for Diseases Control (CDC), is at the forefront of global efforts to end HIV worldwide.

PEPFAR believes and practices deep respect, trust, and humility as it's core values in the program, and had lived in every interaction they had with partners and beneficiaries.

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