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Ghana
Ghana scaled up HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services while addressing stigma and discrimination. The revised pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV self-testing guidelines included long-acting injectable Cabotegravir medicine and Dapivirine Ring to strengthen HIV prevention services in Ghana (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). In 2022, a total of 8088 people received PrEP through a collaborative support from the Joint Team and international development partners in the HIV response. The country also launched an awareness campaign to increase accessibility and use of condoms for HIV and STI prevention particularly among adolescent girls and young women and key populations (UNFPA).
With the Joint Team’s support, an HIV prevention self-assessment among adolescent girls and young women using the HIV Prevention Self-Assessment Tool (PSAT) underscored the need for a costed, comprehensive, and tailored HIV prevention package of services for this group (UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, 4908 teachers improved their skills of delivering HIV prevention education for students, including learners with disabilities, benefiting over 43 000 students in schools (UNESCO).
A pilot family-based index case testing project allowed family members of 141 people living with HIV to be contacted for testing; a total of 309 children were tracked and 262 were tested, of whom 53 children tested positive and linked to treatment services. In five regions with highest HIV burden, HIV treatment and care of 426 HIV-exposed infants (189 were HIV positive) was assessed to identify the factors contributing to new infant infections and build evidence to strengthen prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services (UNICEF).
The test, track and treat consolidated guidelines have been updated to include Dolutegravir-based paediatric antiretroviral treatment regimen and are now aligned with the World Health Organization guidelines (UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, a costed roadmap was developed to guide transition to Dolutegravir for all children living with HIV (WHO). Furthermore, 4000 healthcare workers, including pharmacists completed an online training to improve access and quality of differentiated service delivery among vulnerable and key populations (WHO).