Ghana Introduces National Workplace HIV and Wellness Policy
The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has launched the National Workplace HIV and Wellness Policy on behalf of the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, calling on employers and institutions to promote healthier, stigma-free work environments.
She urged workplaces to ensure accurate health information, protect confidentiality, encourage voluntary testing, and support treatment for persons living with HIV.
She said the policy forms part of government’s broader agenda to improve population health, reduce preventable diseases, protect the workforce, and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Prof. Danquah noted that HIV remains a major public health and development challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, with significant impacts on households, productivity, and national development.
She emphasized that the workplace is a key platform for prevention, education, counselling, testing, stigma reduction, and treatment support.
She explained that the policy adopts a comprehensive approach to workplace wellness, integrating HIV interventions with broader health measures such as routine screening, mental health awareness, nutrition, and physical activity.
This, she said, aligns with the Ministry’s focus on prevention and early intervention, as well as the Government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmecelle Prosper Akanbong, said about 334,723 people were living with HIV in Ghana as of the end of 2024, with treatment coverage currently at 68 per cent against a 95 per cent target.
He noted that this leaves a significant gap in access to care and support.
He stressed that the workplace remains a critical entry point for HIV response efforts, given the amount of time people spend there, and called for effective implementation of the policy across both public and private sectors to ensure early identification, support, and linkage to care in line with the principle of leaving no one behind.
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