PlusNews Country Profile

Country Profile for Ghana UNAIDS/WHO Epidemiological Fact sheets on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (Attention: This is a large PDF file) www.unaids.org Ghana AIDS Commission This multi-sectoral body has been set up to direct, manage, coordinate, monitor and evaluate all activities in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country. Specifically the objective of the commission is to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS by 30 percent by 2005. Tel: +233 21 662691 HIV/AIDS Organisations: 1. Ghana HIV/AIDS Network (GHANET) A network of NGOs involved in AIDS programming, membership of the network is between 400-600 through eight associations in the country. The chairman of GHANET also sits on the National AIDS Council. Contact person: Sam Anyimadu-Amaning Tel: +233 21 783923 Fax: +233 21 776725 Address: P.O. Box MB533 Ministries, Accra 2. Ghana AIDS Volunteers Association The association has been travelling to remote rural areas to create awareness and to provide home-based care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Contact person: Mame Pokouaa Tel: +233 21 246871 Fax: +233 21 240087 Address: P.O. Box 19952, Accra-North Email: [email protected] 3. Youth for Action Organisation (YAO) YAO has been involved in creating awareness and encouraging prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth. Using peer group education and counselling, they are spearheading the project "Youth children Against AIDS". Contact person: Paul Kwasi Mensah Tel: + 233 8822665 Address: P.O. Box 548, Akim Oda, Ghana Email: [email protected] / [email protected] 4. GTZ Regional AIDS Programme for Africa Contact person: Bob Verbruggen Tel: +233 21 763941 Fax: +233 21 763440 Address: P.O. Box 9698 KA, Accra Email: [email protected] 5. Mother Africa Association and Child Care Organisation (MACCO) MACCO has been involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy and education campaigns and provides help for people living with HIV/AIDS Contact person: Frank Ablorh Tel: +233 21 716951 Fax: +233 21 712414 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] 6. ActionAid Ghana Tel: +233 21 224788 Fax: +233 21 764930 Address: P.O. Box 19083 Accra-North, Ghana Email: [email protected] or [email protected] HIV/AIDS Projects 1. The Ghana Police Service HIV/AIDS Programme reaches more than 17,000 police personnel across the country through some 400 peer educators who use a curriculum created specifically for this critical target population. The programme recently launched a voluntary counselling and testing facility at the police hospital and has developed innovative behaviour change materials including a "condom wallet" that is worn on the belt and is now a standard component of the Ghana police uniform. The programme is being expanded to reach the remaining police across the country and to provide leadership for the introduction of a broader programme aimed at all Ghana's uniformed services. For more details contact: Dr Godfried Asiamah Email: [email protected] 2. Stop AIDS. Love Life is a national HIV/AIDS campaign that aims to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS, to increase the adoption of safer sex behaviour, to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS, and to encourage compassion, care, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PWAs). The campaign focuses on advocacy, community mobilisation, and mass media. Mass media components include a music video, television, and radio spots featuring traditional and religious leaders and PWAs, and a popular television drama. For more information: www.jhuccp.org/africa/ghana/stopaids.shtml