UNAIDS Appoints Ghana's Frist Lady Premier Ambassador for HIV Advocacy and OAFLA Head

The UNAIDS has made Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the Premier Ambassador in Ghana for HIV Advocacy, elimination of mother to Child Transmission of HIV and saving mothers to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets for 2020.
 
The UNAIDS Country Director, Girmay Haile, who announced it to the First Lady, said the role of First Ladies in Africa in combating HIV and AIDS was crucial and, therefore, assured Mrs. Akufo-Addo of the readiness of the Ghana office to support her in her activities. 

As First Lady, she also becomes the President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA), a position which Ghana is holding till June 2017. 

This was announced when the country Director of UNAIDS and Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe called on her to congratulate her and her husband, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on winning the 2016 presidential election. 

They commended the country for standing out in its democratic practices, saying “Ghana is a true demonstration of democracy in Africa and beyond.” 

Mr. Michel Sidibe, for his part, said the UNAIDS is committed to working with Ghana to put the country on the world map as having eradicated new infections of HIV in the country. 

He said presently, the epidemic was at its defining moment and much had been achieved by Ghana by extending HIV treatment to more people. 

Mr. Sidibe said the most challenging moment about HIV/AIDS was with adolescents transiting into adulthood.
 
He explained that such people were normally not tested so they did not know their status, those who knew were also not ready to take anti-retroviral medication while those on the treatment were also not ready to take their medication. 

Mr. Sidibe, therefore, called on the First Lady to become a voice for adolescents to encourage them to be more aware of the disease. 

Mrs. Akufo Addo thanked the UNAIDS for the honour done her and pledged to work to help combat the disease. 

Writing on her Facebook Timeline, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said: I am humbled and honoured to be chosen as the Premier Ambassador in Ghana for HIV Advocacy, elimination of mother to Child Transmission of HIV and saving mothers to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets for 2020. It was a pleasure meeting Mr. Michel Sidibe  Executive Director and Mr. Haile Girmay  Country Director. I look forward to making the vision a reality."


GBC