GOSANET Foundation, a health NGO in the Volta region, is working to increase demand for HIV Services in fishing communities in the South Dayi District.
The NGO is intensifying education to promote safer sex practices and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups in those communities.
Mr. Samuel Yao Atidzah, Executive Director of GOSANET Foundation, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of an engagement with fisherfolks at Dzemeni in the South Dayi District of the Volta region on Wednesday.
He said the sensitisation was in collaboration with the South Dayi District Assembly, traditional authorities, fisherfolks associations and youth groups.
The Executive Director stated that fishing communities were often underserved in healthcare delivery.
He noted that as Ghana pushed towards achieving epidemic control, such community-based interventions were critical.
Mr. Atidzah said the Foundation remained committed to ensuring that no one was left behind in the fight against HIV.
He stated that with the HIV Self Testing (HIVST) Initiative, individuals could now test in privacy and dignity, adding that the approach was helping to break the stigma barrier whilst improving testing uptake among fisherfolks.
Mr. Atidzah said as part of the national efforts to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 by the year 2030, GOSANET Foundation in partnership with Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) had intensified its human rights-centred HIV interventions in the South Dayi District.
He noted that the initiative targeted fisherfolks under the Global Fund’s GC7 grant through the Other Vulnerable Populations (OVP) Project.
The Executive Director stated that the Project aimed to increase HIV case identification, treatment linkage and long-term retention in fishing communities.
He continued that it also focused on empowering fishermen and women with information, services and tools to take control of their health whilst also upholding their rights.
Mr. Atidzah said under the OVP Intervention Package, the Foundation was distributing HIST kits, male condoms and human rights education materials at landing sites, fish markets and at other fishing community’s gatherings.
“The Foundation has so far distributed over 1,000 HIVST Kits and 5,032 male condoms, he said.
He told the GNA that positive HIV cases were linked to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centres for immediate care and support.
Mr. Atidzah said the Foundation already had engagements with six fishing communities in the district and hoped to engage all others before the end of the Project in 2026.