A report released by consultants engaged by the Ghana AIDS Commission to review the HIV & AIDS National Strategic Framework II (NSFII) which covered the period between 2006 and 2010, have identified inadequate funding for anti-retroviral  (ARV) therapy and declining government allocation for treatment of HIV as a key challenge.   This came to light during a meeting organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission and its stakeholders to disseminate the findings of the NSF II review.

A team of consultants led by Dr. Hugues Lago reviewed the NSFII along five thematic areas, namely; co-ordination and management of the decentralized multi-sectoral response; prevention and mitigation; treatment, care and support; research, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation; and policy, advocacy and enabling environment.  Other members of the team were Dr Kwabena Poku, Dr Yao Yeboah, Dr William Bonsu and Dr Agnes Dzokoto. 

The report indicated that although Ghana had stabilized generalized HIV epidemic, there were however significant regional and district variations.  It further indicated that although significant inputs contributed to commendable progress in the National HIV & AIDS Response, there existed some challenges that impeded the level of achievement of the expected outcome. The report also touched on lack of gender specific goals, outcomes and indicators, inadequate dissemination. It also indicated that facilities for the provision of anti-retroviral (ARV) services had increased from 13 in 2005 to 138 in 2009.  In addition, the number of people living with HIV (PLHIVs) who have been put on ARV have increased from 6,736 in December 2006 to 31,977 in December 2009.

It further revealed that resources for implementation of HIV prevention activities reduced from 39percent in 2005 to 12 percent in 2008. It further reminded government that the high donor support which went into the provision of ARV, was scheduled to end by 2011, and called for adequate local assistance to sustain the gains made so far.

According to the report, although there had been some level of political commitment and leadership, this has not been fully translated into action, especially in the area of provision of resources. It was therefore, recommended that the development of the new framework, (NSF III covering 2011-2015) should take into account efforts to sustain and scale-up effective strategies and also address identified challenges.

Commenting on the report, Dr Lago said to ensure a sustained political and policy involvement, there was the need to create a policy forum for regular interaction with stakeholders and the revision of HIV related policy issues as a basis for policy promotion and enforcement.  "The degree of involvement of policy makers throughout the policy formulation and dissemination process is limited," he said.

On resource mobilisation, he said there was funding from different organisations like Government, the UN System and the Private Sector to support implementation of the National HIV & AIDS Response.  Dr Lago further stated that the National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) for 2007 and 2008 has been conducted and disseminated. He said unequal level of understanding of funding modalities had been a problem affecting the project, adding that government had also failed to release funds early enough to support programs at the regional and district levels.  He further called for increase in government funding from 10 to 15 per cent, alignment of funding to national priorities and conducting operational and actuarial studies.

The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El-Adas stated that the development, monitoring and evaluation of the National Strategic Framework was a significant accomplishment of the country’s HIV and AIDS response adding that it represented the second phase of a coordinated national response to HIV and AIDS.

She expressed the hope that the findings and recommendations from the joint review duly informed the next framework meant to cover 2011 and 2015 and expressed the hope that adequate resources would be made available for future programmes.

Speaking on behalf of the development partners, the country Coordinator of UNAIDS, Dr Leopold Zekeng reiterated the commitment of the partners and gave the assurance that his organization will continue to support Ghana, both financially and technically.

The Chairperson for the occasion, Nana Oye Lithur commended the Ghana AIDS Commission and its stakeholders for coming out with the study and urged them to continue with the good work which was started years ago.