ADVENTIST AIDS INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY AAIM NORTHERN GHANA UNION

ADVENTIST AIDS INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY (AAIM) NORTHERN GHANA UNION MISSION (NOGH), KUMASI REPORT BY NOGH DIRECTOR

“…I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it to the full…” (NKJ: more abundantly…) NIV - John 10: 10 b.

CHURCH STATISTICS AS AT 1 ST QUARTER 2018 • Number of Fields: - 9 Conferences, 1 Mission and 2 Administrative Units • Number of Churches: - 851 • Number of Companies: - 1, 119 • Total Church Membership: - 194, 984 • Number of Churches engaged in HIV Programmes: Majority of all the churches take part in the HIV/AIDS Day programs as scheduled on the WAD calendar of events especially by promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and blood donation • Number of Churches engaged in HIV projects: Specifically, none but what some churches have done is the establishment of Health facilities and institutions which offer services

Continuation • Evangelistic Activities the Union and its fields engaged in and is still on course is the TMIPentecost 2018 Program organized by the Division- WAD and the Union. This program is well supported or assisted by our Health Facilities as some of them conduct campaigns themselves. At every where the program is held, there is about 20 minute- Health promotion and 3 hours health screening exercise. Among the topics treated during the health promotion time include issues on HIV/AIDS.

NGUM(NOGH) HEALTH FACILITIES • The Northern Ghana Union Mission Health Ministries Department has 12 hospitals as Asamang, Kwadaso (Kumasi), Wiamoase, Dominase, Akomaa Memorial (Kotwia), Obuasi, Sunyani, Ahinsan (Kumasi), Bremang (Kumasi), Namong, Valley View University (Techiman), and Tamale. • There also 5 clinics as Anyinasuso, Apaa, Nobewam, Konkoma and Wa. • Although HIV/AIDS tests (Screenings) are conducted in all these 17 facilities, there are 4 main referral and ART treatment centers as Asamang, Kwadaso, Dominase, and Tamale. • The Health Training institutions are SDA Nursing/Midwifery Training College, Kwadaso and SDA Midwifery Training College, Asamang. These training institutions have HIV/AIDS programs or promotion teams • There is also 1 main Central Pharmacy in-charge of medicines.

SUMMARY OF STATISTICS OF GHANA ADVENTIST HEALTH SERVICE (GAHS) FACILITIES/ACTIVITIES GAHS FACILITIES TOTAL NO. IN NOGH FIELDS 1 GAHS SECRETARIAT 1 with 6 workers 1 2 HOSPITALS 15 with 776 beds 12 with 655 beds 3 CLINICS 14 with 170 beds 5 with 41 beds 4 HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS 3 with 2574 students 2 with 1424 students 5 GAHS CENTRAL PHARMACY 1 with 15 workers 6 FACILITIES WITH HIV/AIDS ART SERVICES TOTAL 1 with 15 workers 4 34

NATIONAL (GHANA) SITUATION ON HIV/AIDS PREVALENCE The total population of Ghana was 28, 833, 629 in 2017. The report by Ghana National AIDS Commission and STI Control Programme (NACP) 2017 reveals that HIV/AIDS increased by 18% rise in new cases. Prevalence rate was 2. 4% of a population of 28, 206, 728 in 2016, as compared to 1. 8% prevalence rate of a population of 27, 582, 821 in 2015. Currently (2018) Ghana’s population stands at 29, 463, 643

AAIM ACTIVITIES IN NOGH • AAIM AND WAD DIRECTORS VISIT—Glory be to God that the Health Ministries Dept/AAIM of NOGH was opportuned with august visit by the General Conference AAIM Director, Dr. Alexis Llaguno and the WAD Director of AAIM and Health Ministries, Dr. A. Ndaa for our Union Health and AAIM Advisory. Their 5 -day visit in November 14 -17, 2017 was a blessing to the Union especially the four conferences (Central Ghana Conference , South-Central Ghana Conference, Mid-Central Ghana Conference, and Ashanti Central Ghana Conference) headquartered at Kumasi and some of their facilities and Health institutions we could visit.

-continue • On AIDS days, offerings are raised in most churches to promote AAIM programs especially donation to HIV/AIDS victims. • Currently of all our medical/health facilities, about 4 of our SDA Hospitals are offering as part of their special services or delivery the treatment of HIV/AIDS (Chronic Clinic Center). Thus they are serving as main HIV/AIDS referral centers or facilities. These facilities are Kwadaso, Asamang, Kotwia and Tamale hospitals. Challenges • Main challenges facing the AAIM activities in Ghana are the issues of stigma or stigmatization, inadequate financial support and lack of patronage by citizens.

• BRIEF REPORTS FROM FACILITIES WITH HIV/AIDS CENTRES and the NURSING/MIDWIFERY TRAINING COLLEGE (NMTC) • 1) Kwadaso SDA Hospital • 2) Asamang SDA Hospital • 3) Dominase SDA Hospital • 4) Kwadaso SDA NMTC • 5) Tamale SDA Hospital

HOSPITAL GALLERY

ART CENTER- SDA HOSPITALKWADASO

HIV/AIDS DATA CLIENT REGISTRATION FOR 2014 -2017 350 200 215 188 207 200 112 82 68 53 172 235 250 100 232 218 215 250 319 300 150 CLIENTS ON ANTI RETROVIRAL DRUG FOR THE PERIOD 2014 -2017 153 147 135 156 147 150 114 100 60 50 72 68 42 50 0 0 1 2014 2 2015 3 2016 2017 1 2 2014 2015 3 2016 2017

OUR KEY ACTIVITIES/INNOVATIONS * There is a special paupers fund for HIV/AIDS patients. Part of the funds are used to register and renew National Health Insurance for our clients to access free health care. * The hospital is actively involved in mainstream evangelism. Last month, 25 souls were won through a two-week campaign sponsored by the hospital. 500 people were screened for HIV for free during the program HIV/AIDS DAY, NURSES WITH A CLIENT

Medical evangelism of SDA hospital Kwadaso, 25 souls Medical evangelism of SDA H were won. 500 people were screened for HIV.

ART DETENTION CENTRE- SDA HOSPITAL- ASAMANG NB: captured under express authority from client

TOTAL CLIENTS TESTED (2017) Out of the total 917 tested, 79 (9%) were HIV positive and 50 (63%) of them are on the ART treatment MONTH TOTAL TESTED POSITIVE TESTED NEGATIVE JAN 78 2 76 FEB 60 6 54 MAR 77 8 71 APR 85 5 80 MAY 65 6 59 JUN 57 5 52 JUL 65 5 60 AUG 98 9 89 SEP 88 10 78 OCT 90 7 83 NOV 67 8 59 DEC 87 8 79 TOTAL 917 79 838

TOTAL CLIENTS TESTED ( 2018) 1153 tests were conducted and 75 tested positive(6%) and 53 are on ART treatment (70%) MONTH TOTAL TESTED POSITIVE TESTED NEGATIVE JAN 230 15 215 FEB 220 14 206 MAR 238 21 217 APR 231 9 222 MAY 234 16 218 TOTAL 1153 75 1078

KEY ACTIVITIES • Launching and implementation of the Know your status campaign. This will see us achieve the UNAIDS target(90 -90 -90) for our catchment population by 2030. • Establishment of HIV toll free lines. Clients are able to receive counselling even in the comfort of their homes. Its part of the hospital’s ‘doorstep healthcare’ approach. • We have assigned individuals( Psychosocialsupporters) for every clients on the ART treatment. With this, personalized services are given to each clients according to varied their needs.

SDA HOSPITAL- DOMINASE- ART (FRIENDS) CENTER

KEY ACTIVITIES/INNOVATIONS • The ART center is labeled ‘Friends centre’. With this, clients are able to access our services without fear and stigma. Personalised and detailed services are given to them • There is a 100% availability of ART drugs for our HIV/AIDS patients at the center. There are follow up services for our clients and we endorse excellent adherence counselling.

SDA NURSING AND MIDWIFERY TRAINING- KWADASO

SDA NURSING AND MIDWIFERY TRAINING COLLEGE- KWADASO • There is no ART center at the training school however our activities are structured to integrate HIV/AIDS interventions in our setups

KEY ACTIVITIES/INNOVATIONS * The school has integrated HIV/AIDS studies into our mainstream academic curricular. Students are assessed on their knowledge and how they will minister to HIV/AIDS patients when they pass out. * The school has a student group called ‘Adventist Nurses Evangelistic Sentinel (ANES). It’s our version of the TMI group; and, we are mainly into medical missionary ministry. Part of our ministry is to provide community free HIV screening and counselling.

SDA HOSPITAL TAMALE Located in Northern Ghana has started providing HIV/AIDS related health care in March 2018.

Care services include prevention, treatment, care and support for HIV/AIDS. Prevention includes Community Health Outreach engagements in schools, churches and community at large. [Nurses during Health Outreach in an SDA School]

RESULTS: Over the short period (March-June, 2018) • 25 people living with HIV have been recorded: 4 men and 21 women. • The hospital is also engaged in the Prevention Mother to Child (PMTC) From March 2018, 14 pregnant women have been tested HIV positive and put on the right medication. • Three (3) other pregnant women have been referred to our facility by other hospitals. • Currently, our hospital is putting in place strategies to intensify stigma reduction, and to ensure that pregnant women living with HIV consistently take their medication to reduce the risk of passing on the infection to their unborn babies.

A Doctor attending to a HIV Patient

ART drugs are always available in the hospital for the Regional Medical Stores supplies us as and when we request for. Spiritual accompaniment is provided by the chaplain.