Forty-seven-year-old Joy* received an HIV diagnosis in 2015 and started treatment soon after. However, after a few days, she experienced complications from the medication. She sought advice from her spiritual leader, who told her she would be cured if she prayed and fasted for 20 days. As the year progressed, however, Joy continued to lose weight, developed skin infections, and could not sleep. Even so, she did not visit a health facility.
Returning to HIV Treatment
In October 2021, Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), a sub-grantee of the USAID Strengthening the Care Continuum project, visited the Goaso Government Hospital and obtained a list of and called clients who had stopped HIV treatment. Joy met with an HFFG staff member, who linked her with psychosocial and treatment adherence counseling. Joy agreed to revisit the health facility on the condition that the counselor accompany her.
On November 5, 2021, Joy went back on treatment. She is feeling much better and frequently calls HFFG to express her gratitude for bringing her hope and relief.
The USAID Care Continuum Project and partners have brought back to care over 10,000 people living with HIV who had interrupted their treatment: 8,200 in Western Region, 1,000 in Western North Region, and 1,200 in Ahafo Region. In the Asunafo North District of Ahafo Region, where Joy lives, HFFG helped 99 people return to care between October 2022 and April 2023.
The USAID Strengthening the Care Continuum project supports over 36,000 people living with HIV in the Western Region (over 22,000 people), Western North Region (over 8,000), and Ahafo Region (over 6,000). The project is designed to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Ghana and its partners to provide quality, comprehensive HIV services for people living with HIV in the three regions.
*For privacy reasons, her name has been changed.
