Inclusive Health for Africa (IHA) is a non-profit organization that provides Sexual and Reproductive Health services to vulnerable and underserved communities in Ghana. For 2023, its focus has been on Northern Ghana. To commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day, which falls on 1st December annually, the organization partnered with Curious Minds Ghana and Active Youth TV to conduct impactful radio engagements across Tamale and Accra. The initiative aimed to drive discussions and activities and galvanize public support towards ending the AIDS pandemic by 2030.
Savannah Gems,
Savannah Gems hosted four representatives from Inclusive Health for Africa, live on GBC-Savannah, 91.3 MHz in the Northern Region of Ghana, to discuss ‘Partnership with communities to mitigate HIV and AIDS.’ Panelists delved into the progress and challenges and offered some solutions for the fight against the HIV pandemic.
Project Officer Miss Nannette Simms-Golo used the platform to encourage everyone, especially sexually active individuals, to get Voluntary HIV Testing and Counselling screening at least once a year.
Dr. Mariam Nnabiya Abdulai also called on the general public to desist from stigmatizing individuals living with HIV, as it continues to jeopardize the fight against HIV.
Gems of our Time
Dr. Andrew Ziblim, Programs Director for the organization, was hosted on Gems of Our Time, live on GBC- Uniiq 95.7 MHZ and @cmghana (on Instagram), on ‘Leveraging Youth Leadership to Accelerate Progress to End AIDS’. He elaborated on the crucial role of everyone, especially young people, and called for the empowerment of young people to take up the fight against HIV. He also called on the need to shift focus to vulnerable and at-risk groups, as they are often left out of the conversation.
Active Youth Show
Three representatives from the organization were engaged on Diamond Radio 93.7 FM in the Northern Region. The show highlighted the theme for the 2023 World AIDS Day celebration, ‘Let Communities Lead’, highlighting the role and impact that communities have had in shaping the global HIV response.
Dr. Abdul-Hanan Saani Inusah highlighted the influential role that communities have always played in the fight against HIV.
“Over the years, we have noticed that when communities take up the initiative to lead the fight against HIV, we tend to get better results. Letting communities lead means ensuring that communities, especially vulnerable and those disproportionately affected, take part in the design, implementation and evaluation of HIV initiatives to ensure that these interventions are tailored to meet their needs.”
Dr Rashida Gomda called on various key players to involve communities in the planning and implementing community-based initiatives.
“We have seen many instances where interventions never yielded any results because we failed to understand the needs of the communities. We cannot continue to assume what communities need. The Government, Non-Governmental Organizations and all relevant key stakeholders must ensure that they involve communities in all HIV-targeted initiatives.”
She also admonished the public to break the stigma surrounding HIV.
“We need to break the stigma that surrounds HIV. The fight against HIV stigma has seen some results, but the stigma still exists. We must be intentional and thoughtful when addressing individuals living with HIV.”