West Africa AIDS Foundation

Preventive Medicine (Prevention)

There is increasing evidence that health promotion and screening programs have proven successful for many individuals. Most chronic diseases are associated with lifestyle practices. Among these are heart disease, cancer and other chronic debilitating diseases such as diabetes. However infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis also fall under these ailments. Contemporary lifestyle may be an associated factor in the development and progression of these diseases. Education regarding prevention and management of these diseases may reduce loss of life, improve quality of life, and better utilize financial resources. Additionally, screening programs for early detection and assessment of risk factors for these diseases may prove a valuable component of the educational program. Early detection reduces the cost of treatment and improves the prognosis. Activities involved include behavior change communication (BCC) as well as confidential HIV counseling and testing, as testing for HIV still remains a major entry point and essential part of HIV prevention and AIDS care and support activities. It forms the bridge between primary prevention and care and support, in addition to being important for behavioral change. Screenings for other chronic communicable and non communicable diseases are also part of the routine activities conducted under this program.

Treatment (Disease Management Program)

WAAF has an onsite clinic known as the International Health Care Center (IHCC) which also serves as a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center. Services we provide for our clients include treatment of opportunistic infections, enhancing nutritional interventions as well as administering of ARV's. The clinic also takes the opportunity to educate clients on safe sex practices, disclosure to loved ones as well as living with a positive mental attitude. All these interventions ensure that treatment is used as a gateway to HIV prevention. Other services include the treatment and management of sexually transmitted infections as well as management of other infectious diseases like Hepatitis B. Although the clinic is focused on infectious diseases, general medical services are also rendered.

Most At Risk Population (MARP)

Working within the national guidelines of prevention intervention services for most at risk populations (MARP), we run a number of programs that aim to achieve the following outcomes: Reducing the number of partners, educating on consistent and correct use of condoms, changing the perception of personal risk, improving accessibility to high quality and friendly health care, encouraging the disclosure of the patient's status to partners, increasing voluntary counseling and testing as well as discussing issues pertaining to legal matters and human rights. Target groups are men sleeping with men (MSM), lesbians, sex workers including both their paying and non paying partners as well as prison inmates.

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT)

HIV positive pregnant women and their new born babies are offered comprehensive PMTCT services. Services include extensive counseling of pregnant women, promotion of safe delivery including ARV's for both mother and child as well as infant feeding and other maternal services to strengthen the link to treatment, care and support services. We also advocate for increased male involvement and are actively involved in community sensitization and mobilization efforts.

Care and Support

Care and support forms an integral part of WAAF's programs. Groups targeted are the chronically ill, orphans and vulnerable children. Chronically ill patients are primarily supported by building the capacity of their families to take care of them at home (home based care). Orphans and vulnerable children are assisted by the clinic's orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) program to allow children to enrol and attend school for a minimum period of 3 years. We increase the capacity of primary care givers as well as persons living with HIV (PLHIV) by providing income generating activities that enhance self sufficiency and solidarity. Psychosocial as well as nutritional support for PLHIV and their families is also ensured through WAAF's care and support programs.

Multi Sectoral HIV and AIDS Program (MSHAP)

WAAF is working with two community based organizations in Ashaiman, the Worldwide International Youth Organization (WIYO) and the Jon Caring Foundation. The main objective of the program is to offer community based education to the general public on HIV/AIDS prevention and provide counseling and testing services.

WIYO has done extensive condom promotion and distribution for most at risk groups in Ashaiman for the past five years. WIYO is very well known by the Ashaiman district assembly who recognize the good work it is doing in the community.

Jon Caring Foundation is a registered NGO with special emphasis on providing education as a means for behavior change. Over the past 3 years they have been involved in HIV/AIDS educational programs in schools, churches, and the general community and provided HIV counseling and testing services for the inhabitants of Ashaiman. The activities include counseling and testing, condom promotion and distribution, in school HIV education, video and drama shows, distribution of IEC materials as well as training of peer educators. Furthermore a community radio station, Radio Ada, was used to promote HIV services in the Dangme East District. Achievements so far:

Global Fund (PPAG)

WAAF is working with Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) as a sub recipient for the Global Fund project in Ghana. Under the program WAAF implements HIV prevention activities in the following ten districts in Ghana: Dangme East, Ga South, Ga East, Adanse South, Keta district, Ahanta West, Tolon kunbungu, Karaga, Savelugu and Tamale metro. The project will last for 2 years and will include the following activities:

Wellness Programs for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

WAAF and IHCC provide pragmatic public health intervention programs to the general public. Our field of expertise includes infectious and general medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, prostate cancer, etc. We are unique in our emphasis on both prevention and management of various ailments. Companies WAAF has worked with over the years include:

WHY WELLNESS FOR SME?
Employee health is beneficial both to the employer and to the employee. The benefits of employee health in terms of time, money, and productivity can be substantial. There is increasing evidence that health promotion and screening programs have proven successful for many companies and employees. Most chronic diseases are associated with lifestyle practices. Among these are heart disease, cancer and other chronic debilitating diseases such as diabetes. However infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis also fall under these ailments. Contemporary lifestyle may be an associated factor in the development and progression of these diseases. Education regarding prevention and management of these diseases may reduce loss of life, improve quality of life, and better utilize financial resources. Additionally, screening programs for early detection and assessment of risk factors for these diseases may prove a valuable component of the educational program. Early detection reduces absenteeism, often reduces cost of treatment and improves the prognosis. WAAF and IHCC provide comprehensive wellness programs for companies which includes education, screening services and community activities.

Healthy Mum - Healthy Baby

HIV and AIDS have had a significant impact on infant and child deaths. Although some progress is being made in reducing HIV prevention to infants, nutrition is a crucial key according to UNICEF and WHO. HIV prevention is not enough in the context of mother to child transmission. It is necessary also to consider ways to improve maternal health to protect and enhance the rate of child survival.

WHO strongly recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six to twelve months of life to ensure survival since ARVs are now available to positive lactating and pregnant women with a CD4 count of less than 350. In some developing countries such as Ghana food insecurity, poor food intake and sickness due to malnourishment may force some of these women to get off their medication. Malnourished positive pregnant women tend to have too high a viral load which increases the probability of HIV transmission to the baby! Glad Star Ministries implemented a food assistance program as part of the PTMTC program at IHCC. The patients at IHCC receive rice, beans, eggs, tomato paste and cooking oil every other month. They also receive prenatal vitamins, folic acid and calcium as required. Stella Lowe believes that this program will improve the mothers health, improve pregnancy outcomes and ensure the survival of the child.