By Lydia Kukua Asamoah, GNA
Accra, Jan. 23, GNA – The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, will on Thursday, January 24, launch the “Free to Shine Campaign,” an Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) initiative, aimed at ending HIV/AIDS among children by 2030.
The ‘’Free to Shine Campaign,’’ launched at the 20th Ordinary General Assembly of OAFLA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2018, is being spearheaded by OAFLA and the AU.
The continental and national enterprise campaign also seeks to keep mothers living with HIV alive and healthy.
By the launch of the campaign in Ghana, Mrs Akufo-Addo would, among other objectives, mobilise all women in their reproductive ages to access and utilise Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services.
The First Lady, as a member of OAFLA, is collaborating with the Ghana AIDS Commission to champion the campaign, which would feature diverse activities at the national, regional and community levels.
The campaign activities would include the development and dissemination of high impact communication materials, engagement of relevant community structures, social and resource mobilisation and support the provision of HIV and Family Planning services.
Mrs Akufo-Addo would also lead efforts in strengthening follow-up actions for improved Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) coverage, eliminate AIDS in children and keep mothers alive, as well as reduce HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination.
She would again foster community involvement and participation in ending AIDS in children.
A statement issued in Accra from the Office of the First Lady and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the campaign was in line with the global agenda to end AIDS in children, on the theme: “Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission: The Key to an HIV-free Generation and Keeping Mothers Alive”.
The theme highlights the need for babies to start life free of HIV, remain HIV free and for mothers living with HIV to be strong and healthy.
The Free to Shine Campaign seeks to improve access and patronage of quality antenatal care services including HIV testing, placement on anti-retroviral medicines for those who test positive for HIV and continuous follow-up of mother and baby.
“These services are the surest means of keeping the baby HIV free and mother healthy”.
The statement said Ghana had made significant progress in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Programme and that more than 50 per cent of health facilities, including a number of Community Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and providing PMTCT services.
The Free to Shine Campaign is a collaborative effort of OAFLA Ghana Chapter, Ghana AIDS Commission, Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and UNAIDS.
The Campaign will be launched at LEKMA Hospital in Teshie, a suburb of Accra.
GNA
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