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By Alex Osei-Boateng
ACCRA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ghanaian government on Thursday said it will continue in its efforts to eliminate stigma associated with HIV until it has reached every single person that needs HIV services.
At a durbar to mark the 2016 World AIDS Day in Koforidua, some 80 km east of the capital Accra, Chief of Staff at the Presidency Julius Debrah called on stakeholders to ensure that HIV does not become Ghana's story as HIV has remained the leading cause of death among adolescents in Africa with young girls more affected.
Debrah said the threats and effects of stigma have led to some of citizens being left behind in the HIV prevention effort despite the country's policy to leave no one behind and services must be targeted at each subgroup depending on their peculiar needs.
Health professionals were present at the durbar which attracted school children, traditional rulers to offer medical screening for HIV testing and counseling, breast and cervical cancer, Tuberculosis among others free of charge to participants.
Though Ghana has made huge strides in the fight against HIV and AIDS, experts say urgent attention is needed to get life-saving treatment to children and women who are infected and to sustain efforts aimed at preventing new infections.
The HIV prevalence rate in Ghana, according to the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey, stands at 2.1 percent.
World AIDS Day is set aside on the global calendar every Dec.1 to draw attention to the HIV pandemic, take stock of challenges and to remember persons who have died from AIDS. Enditem
