Ghana has introduced a National Workplace HIV and Wellness Policy aimed at promoting healthier, stigma-free work environments and strengthening the country’s response to HIV and related health challenges.
The policy was launched by Deputy Minister for Health, Grace Ayensu-Danquah, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. She called on employers and institutions to take an active role in ensuring the well-being of their workforce.
According to her, workplaces must prioritise access to accurate health information, protect the confidentiality of employees, encourage voluntary HIV testing, and support treatment for persons living with HIV.
She explained that the policy forms part of the government’s broader agenda to improve population health, reduce preventable diseases, protect the workforce, and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah noted that HIV continues to pose a major public health and development challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, with far-reaching effects on households, productivity, and national growth.
She stressed that the workplace remains a critical platform for addressing the issue, offering opportunities for prevention, education, counselling, testing, stigma reduction, and treatment support.
The policy, she added, adopts a comprehensive approach to workplace wellness by integrating HIV interventions with broader health measures, including routine screening, mental health awareness, nutrition, and physical activity. This approach aligns with the Ministry’s emphasis on prevention and early intervention, as well as the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Kharmecelle Prosper Akanbong, disclosed that an estimated 334,723 people were living with HIV in Ghana as of the end of 2024.
He indicated that treatment coverage currently stands at 68 per cent, significantly below the 95 per cent target, highlighting a major gap in access to care and support services.
Dr Akanbong emphasised that the workplace presents a key entry point for expanding HIV response efforts, given the amount of time people spend in professional settings. He therefore called for effective implementation of the policy across both public and private sectors.
He noted that this would support early identification, improved access to treatment, and stronger systems for care and support, in line with the national goal of leaving no one behind.
