Community Systems Strengthening intervention: HFFG engages health professionals in 8 regions
Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) a Sub-Recipient (SR) of the HIV component of the Community Systems Strengthening (CSS) intervention under the Global Fund New Funding Model III (NFMIII) grant under Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) as Principal Recipient (PR), has held stakeholders engagement meetings with health professionals from the Volta, Oti, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Bono, Bono East, Western and Western North Regions of Ghana.
The purpose of the engagement meetings held between May and June 2021 was to :
- Provide updates on the implementation of CSS intervention
- Discuss the selection criteria for community cadres (Models of Hope, Mentor Mothers, Case Managers and Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS)
- Discuss the various cadre numbers, roles, responsibilities and working relationship
- Solicit for support and partnership in the implementation to achieve overall goal of the Global Fund New Fund Model III project
These meetings were attended by Regional and Deputy Regional Health Directors, Metro, Municipal and District Heath Directors, Medical Superintendents of health facilities, Regional HIV Coordinators, Regional Data Officers, ART in-charges and midwives
In Ho, addressing the participants made up of Regional Health Directors, Municipal/District Directors of Health, Medical Superintendents, Midwives, Nurse in Charges, Data Officers and Regional HIV focal persons, the Executive Director of HFFG, Mrs Cecilia Senoo, said the NFMIII which has CHAG the Principal Recipient seeks to complement Ghana’s efforts to achieving the UNAIDS goal of achieving the 95-95-95 and ultimately ending HIV/AIDS. She said the HIV component of the Community Systems Strengthening intervention aims to Scale up quality HIV care cascade through community engagement and addressing human rights barriers.
She took participants through the various criteria and standards for selecting the volunteers like Models of Hope, Mentor Mother, Case Managers, Community Adolescents Treatment Supporters and Peer Paralegals as well as their roles and responsibilities.
Mrs Senoo urged the health professionals to continue to support HFFG to ensure the goals of the initiative are achieved in the regions.
The Deputy Volta Regional Director of Health, Dr Senanu Kwesi Dzokoto, in his address commended HFFG for organizing such an engagement in the region. He noted that there is a need for participants to work as a team to meet the 95-95- 95 HIV target for Ghana.
In the Ashanti Region, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang also said for the 95-95-95 target to be achieved, the Ghana Health Service and CSOs need to work together closely to enhance output.
In the same light, Mrs Gifty Ofori-Ansah, the Director of Health Services, Ningo-Prampram also called for the need to intensify community actions to reduce HIV related stigma and discrimination in communities.
In the Bono region, Mr. Obeng Hinneh, the Regional HIV/TB coordinator who represented the Bono Regional Director of Health of health services praised HFFG for working closely with the Regional Health Directorates for effective implementation of projects.
In general, the regional stakeholders meetings organized by HFFG as a Sub-Recipient under CHAG (Principal Recipient) were successful with all stakeholders pledging to support the intervention in their respective facilities and regions.
