The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, has identified stigma and discrimination as the biggest obstacles to Ghana’s fight against HIV and AIDS.
He said Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) should not be subjected to social exclusion and must have equal opportunities to secure decent jobs, earn promotions and live comfortable and productive lives.
“Persons Living with HIV also have the liberty to enjoy promotions too,” Dr Akanbong stated, while calling for stronger support from stakeholders to tackle HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
He made the call at the opening of a two-day workshop on strengthening the involvement of legal assistance organisations in service provision for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) at Abesim, near Sunyani.
HIV is a manageable condition
Dr Akanbong stressed the need to confront persistent stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, describing HIV as a manageable chronic condition similar to diabetes and hypertension.
He said people living with HIV who adhere strictly to their medication can lead healthy, productive lives like anyone else.
Despite several interventions aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination, he noted that PLHIV continued to experience social exclusion.
He cited the case of about 1,300 applicants who were reportedly unable to join the security services because of their HIV status.
According to Dr Akanbong, the Ghana AIDS Commission requires the collective support of traditional and opinion leaders, chiefs and queens, the media, civil society organisations, human rights activists, security agencies and other stakeholders to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
CHRAJ concerned about confidentiality breaches
The workshop was organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Global Fund.
It forms part of a nationwide series of workshops being held across Ghana’s southern, middle and northern zones to address stigma, discrimination and human rights concerns associated with HIV and TB.
The programme brings together legal practitioners, traditional leaders, law enforcement officers, educators and civil society actors.
The Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mercy Larbi, expressed concern that societal stigma, discrimination and breaches of confidentiality continued to prevent vulnerable groups from accessing healthcare, social services and justice.
She said social exclusion could discourage people from testing for HIV and knowing their status.
Ms Larbi attributed much of the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV to misconceptions and myths about the condition, stressing the need to confront such beliefs directly.
She called for sustained education and stronger protection of the rights and confidentiality of people living with HIV to ensure that fear of discrimination does not prevent individuals from seeking healthcare and other essential services.
