Ghana is facing a potential nationwide shortage of crucial HIV testing supplies, including both oral and blood-based kits, by the end of July. This situation raises alarms about possible interruptions to early diagnosis and treatment programs unless immediate action is taken.
These testing kits are vital for confirming HIV status, especially among pregnant women and in urgent situations.
In an interview with Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, the President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), cautioned that the depletion of existing supplies could jeopardize progress towards controlling the epidemic and hinder efforts to achieve global HIV targets.
He pointed out that the current stock of HIV test kits and reagents is only sufficient until July, after which testing services throughout the country may face disruptions.
Ortsin elaborated that without prompt intervention, the shortage could lead to delays in diagnosis, limit access to antiretroviral therapy, and heighten the risk of new infections.
“Shortages result in fewer individuals being tested, which raises the risk of undetected HIV infections,” he stated.
He emphasized that this situation would jeopardize Ghana’s advancement towards meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of individuals living with HIV to be diagnosed, 95% to be on treatment, and 95% to achieve viral suppression.
The testing commodities, including both oral and blood testing kits, were supplied by the Global Fund for the period of 2024-2026, with an agreement that the Ghanaian government would procure the remaining supplies after the Global Fund’s contribution in the third year (2026).
The government’s delay can be attributed to funding shortages, procurement issues, and a heavy dependence on donor support for HIV-related supplies.
The President of GHANET urged emergency procurement actions, enhanced supply chain management, and increased government funding to prevent a crisis.
He voiced concern that Ghana continues to depend significantly on external partners for HIV commodities, noting the restricted domestic production capabilities for test kits and reagents. He urged the government to explore local manufacturing partnerships to lessen reliance on imports and enhance the sustainability of Ghana’s HIV response.
Additionally, he advocated for the creation of buffer stocks to protect the system from potential future supply interruptions.
