HIV Viral Load (VL) and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV testing are beneficial in improving the health and wellbeing of patients. However, their coverage is low in Sub-Saharan countries like Ghana, even though some successes have been reported.

In Ghana, the estimated ART coverage for children in 2022 was 43.59%, while the Prevention-of-Mother-To-Child-Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) coverage stood at 84.83% and is expected to rise until it reaches 100% in 2030. Regardless of these achievements, the expected target is to totally eradicate HIV by 2030. In that regard, HIV and EID testing has to be scaled up in many regions of the country where testing is low including Greater Accra, Eastern, Upper West and Western North.

An important barrier to effective diagnosis is inadequate sample referral networks. In order to mitigate these challenges, the Center for Health System Strengthening (CfHSS) in collaboration with the Western North region of the Ghana Health Service are being supported by the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program–Procurement and Supply Management to develop a suitable sample referral system and provide continuous quality improvement to ensure quality testing results. CfHSS aims to achieve this through stakeholder engagements, structured and unstructured interview, focus group discussions, provision of technical assistance and general logistics support.

The first step in this collaborative effort, i.e. stakeholder engagement has been completed, setting the stage for the next steps.

Stay tuned for updates on this important collaboration by following us via our social media handles. Website: CfHSS.org, LinkedIn: Centre for Health System Strengthening, Twitter: @forCfHSS. You can also reach us via email, info@CfHSS.org

Images from the meeting