Director General of the Ghana Aids Commission, Dr Stephen Kyeremeh Atuahene, has noted that the lives of 354,927 Ghanaians are at risk owing to the shortage of anti-retroviral medication, specifically the Abacavir Lamivudine regimen, which is vital for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) nationwide.
A total of 354,927 people live with HIV AIDS. And out of this figure, 115,235 are males while 239,692 are females.
The Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+ Ghana) has reported that their members are encountering difficulties in accessing this crucial medication at hospitals throughout the country.
This report has been confirmed by the Ghana Aids Commission, who have now called on the Ghana Health Service to take immediate steps to address the problem.
The drugs needed are said to be locked up at the port. Hence Dr Stephen Kyeremeh Atuahene, has entreated the Ghana Health Service to prioritize the HIV commodities to get them released immediately by making the necessary payment.
“Because there are several containers of various health commodities at the port which are in the same category of non-clearance. So it is very necessary,” he said.
He warned that “any break in supply of anti-retroviral medicines to people living with HIV is a serious risk to their lives and we should not do anything to undermine their lives.”
Meanwhile, President of the Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS, NAP+, Elsie Ayeh, says her members are currently unable to take any effective step as the matter is beyond them.
She registered her displeasure over the taxes placed on the drugs. According to her, it is unacceptable as the country receives these drugs as donation.
AU Tax, ECOWAS Tax and COVID-19 Tax have been placed on the drugs currently at the port, she said.
“Our members can’t do anything. We are calling on the government to remove that tax waiver. We know that the medication is free. Free in the sense that they were donated. Why should our country tax those medications that have come in free. That is what we don’t understand,” she said.
She continued: “Is that tax more important than the number of PLHIV who are virally suppressed at this time who have to continue taking their medication so that we remain healthy, we don’t transmit HIV and we also enable our country to reach that target that we are all heading towards. That is AIDS free population by 2030. We don’t want the new infections coming on board.”