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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Joyce Addo-Atuah, PhD Candidate¹, Dick Gourley, Pharm D², Shelley White-Means, PhD², Greta Gourley, Pharm D/PhD², Robin Womeodu, MD³, and Richard Faris, PhD². (1) College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 847 Monroe Avenue Rm 205M, Memphis, TN 38163, 901-240-8010, jaddoatu@utmem.edu, (2) College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 847 Monroe Avenue, suite 226, Memphis, TN 38163, (3) College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Pauline Building, Memphis, TN 38163

Background: Appropriate national policies are essential for creating an enabling environment which helps reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and promote access to care for the affected. As part of a larger cross-sectional qualitative study on “Factors Relating to Access to Antiretroviral therapy(ART)in Ghana”,available policies on HIV/AIDS, including access to ART, in Ghana were examined.

Methods: 20 respondents(10 policy makers and 10 Development Partners in the field of HIV/AIDS in Ghana) participated in a face-to-face interview using an investigator-administered open-ended questionnaire. Interviews were conducted in Accra, Ghana, between July-September, 2005. Respondents' responses regarding available policies on HIV/AIDS including access to ART were evaluated in the light of available relevant national documents.

Results: 40% of respondents were female, the majority, (65%) were in the 40-49 year category and 15% were above 50 years, 95% were Ghanaian, all respondents were appointed officials either of the Government(45%), or a faith-based national health system (5%) or international agencies (Development Partners) helping the Ghana Government in the field of HIV/AIDS(50%). The National HIV/AIDS and STI Policy (2004), the National Strategic Framework I(NSFI)(2001-2005) and the draft NSFII (2006-2010) have established an enabling environment needed for reducing HIV vulnerability and promoting access to comprehensive care including ART. A policy for the accreditation of sites prior to the provision of ART is to ensure quality and standardization of care across the country. The Guidelines for Antiretroviral Therapy in Ghana define the criteria for patient enrollment into the ART program and also the 1st and 2nd line HAART regimens to be used for new patients and treatment failures respectively. Thus these guidelines eliminate treatment disparities on the basis of race, gender, age,or socio-economic status. Financial barrier to access to ART is mitigated by a Government subsidy which requires patients to pay a monthly charge equivalent to $5 which is 10% of the total cost of care including ARVs. However, transportation cost is still a barrier to many PLWHA, who for now, have to travel long distances to access ART services, until the Government's goal of universal access to ART is fully implemented.

Conclusion: Policies in Ghana regarding HIV/AIDS and access to ART conform to international human rights principles relevant to HIV/AIDS, especially, • The right to non-discrimination, equal protection and equality before the law; • The right to life; • The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Learning Objectives:

• After attending the session, participants should be able to
• 1. Identify the key features of the policy environment in Ghana for HIV/AIDS including access to antiretroviral therapy (ART)
• 2. Analyze the short and long term effects of such policies on access to ART
• 3. Discuss how lessons learned from Ghana could be applied to similar circumstances in the United States.

Keywords: Access to Care, Antiretroviral Combination Therapy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 86.5 kb)