The Forum was held on the 25th September 2009 at the Erata Hotel with funding from GTZ ReCHT. The main purpose of the event was to provide updated information on HIV issues of special relevance for the National response to HIV & AIDS in Ghana and the HIV epidemic worldwide. This Forum addressed Ghana’s research and practice on stigma and discrimination towards out-of-the-norm sexual practices, tackling Stigma and Discrimination referring to the most at risk population (MARPs): sexual workers (SW) and men who have sex with men (MSM).
Prof. Sakyi Awuku Amoah, a member of the Executive Council of GBCA, reminded the audience that in Ghana and worldwide HIV is prevalent across all strata of the society. The good news about the newly developed vaccine has to be seen with precaution as the warning from UNAIDS, WHO, other researchers also stated (a weak vaccine- efficacy 31%-, unlikely to be practical, especially since it involves six injections over four visits and its applicability to regions outside the area of study is uncertain as the vaccine uses genetic subgroups of HIV not found in Africa, for example). Hence, other effective preventive
approaches are to be continued and intensified. In Ghana, stigma and discrimination (caused among other factors by the lack of in depth knowledge) is opposing the efforts to counteract the spread of HIV.
Therefore, of outmost importance is to properly tackle stigma by addressing the need to understand why, with our culturally determined thinking patterns, we discriminate towards “out of the norm” behaviours, to open our minds and react constructively to the changes in our society and entire environment.
Presenters were Ms Joyce Steiner, Chair Stigma Reduction working group, Christian Council of Ghana on ‘Stigma and discrimination focusing on culturally reprehensible sexual practices in Ghana’; Dr. Khonde Nzambi on ‘Stigma and discriminatory attitudes and perceptions in Accra and Tema Metropolis’; and Mrs Comfort Asamoah, WAPCAS, ‘The STI and HIV Intervention program for MSM in the WAPCAS experience’. |
