Government urged to enroll HIV Lab test unto NHIS

An HIV/AIDS Ambassador, Rev. John Azumah, says laboratory tests that persons living with HIV/AIDS have to undergo before they are put on treatment are pretty much expensive and is admonishing government to scrap it off and enrolled onto the National Health Insurance scheme. 

He said the expensive nature of laboratory tests is depriving quite a number of persons living with the disease, who are supposed to be on treatment, from accessing HIV care services. 

Speaking with Savannah News in Tamale, Rev. Azumah stressed that if government is committed at achieving its 90-90-90 agenda, it should either consider reducing laboratory fees or enroll it unto the NHIS. 

He said lab Tests range from GH¢200.00 – GH¢350.00 (two hundred to three hundred and fifty Ghana cedis) depending on the facility one visits, and since many infected persons cannot afford to pay, they are compelled to stay at home. 

This, Rev. Azumah, explained will be a major setback in achieving the 90-90-90 agenda in 2020 if authorities sit unconcerned. 

He urged all to join hands at impressing on government to consider their plea.

Story by Joyce Kantam Kolamong
GBCONLINE
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