Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister for Health, has inaugurated the National Workplace HIV and Wellness Policy on behalf of the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, urging companies and institutions to create healthier, stigma-free work environments.
She called on employers to guarantee accurate health information, safeguard anonymity, promote voluntary testing, and support HIV treatment.
According to her, the strategy is a component of the government’s larger plan to enhance population health, lower the number of diseases that may be prevented, safeguard the workforce, and promote universal health coverage.
HIV continues to be a serious public health and development issue, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, with substantial effects on households, productivity, and national development, according to Prof. Danquah.
She underlined that the workplace is an important setting for stigma reduction, education, counselling, testing, prevention, and treatment support.
She clarified that the strategy takes a holistic approach to workplace wellness, combining HIV therapies with more general health measures including regular screening, mental health awareness, physical exercise, and nutrition.
She stated that this is consistent with the government’s Free Primary Healthcare program and the Ministry’s emphasis on early intervention and prevention.
About 334,723 persons in Ghana were living with HIV as of the end of 2024, according to Dr. Kharmecelle Prosper Akanbong, Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission. Treatment coverage is now at 68% compared to a target of 95%.
This creates a big gap in care and support access, he said.
Given the amount of time people spend at work, he emphasised that the workplace continues to be a crucial entry point for HIV response efforts. He also urged the public and private sectors to implement the policy effectively in order to guarantee early identification, support, and linkage to care in accordance with the principle of leaving no one behind.
Source: newsthemegh.com