The Network of People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is urging the next Mahama government to prioritize their needs by removing import duties on antiretroviral drugs.
Earlier this year, people living with HIV in Ghana faced an acute shortage of life-saving medicines, with containers of medicine stuck at ports for months. This was due to the outgoing government’s insistence that donors pay import duties on health products.
In an interview with joy newsEmanuela Akosua Coffey, president of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Students Federation, expressed optimism that such awareness campaigns could help eradicate prejudice by 2030.
“Stigma and discrimination against HIV has been evident for many years and in fact it has been a silent battle. Most people have ended their lives, there have been many suicide cases and it is alarming because it is a psychological battle. You’ll see what you’re supposed to do.
“So we can help people understand that the death penalty is not a sentence, it’s not the end of life. So if we can understand what the death penalty means and how we can get better. , we want to see prejudice, discrimination and HIV/AIDS completely reduced by 2030,” she said on Saturday, December 14.
Additionally, Richard Agozo, Youth Coordinator of the Ghana HIV-Infected People Network, called on the incoming Mahama government to address the import duty barrier on antiretroviral drugs. He emphasized how expensive taxes are on these drugs.
“The Global Fund gives us medicines for free, but the taxes on these medicines are intolerable. , why should there be taxes like ECOWAS tax or AU tax in this regard?” he asked.
Some event participants shared their thoughts afterwards and advised patients to be more confident in seeking medical advice.
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