The partnership between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Government of Ghana (GoG) began in 2008 with the goal of strengthening HIV prevention and control. Over the past 10 years, CDC’s focus has transitioned from an emergency response approach to one of sustainability and shared responsibility. The CDC Ghana program has moved from focusing mainly on prevention of HIV in key populations (KP) to a significant role in supporting Ghana’s laboratory and strategic information capacity.

CDC is the lead for laboratory efforts within the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and improves the skills of laboratorians and efficiency of laboratory services. CDC, together with the GoG, assesses the laboratorian skills in real-world settings and addresses any shortfalls that are recognized. CDC Ghana is also the hub of PEPFAR’s West Africa Region and supports laboratory and strategic information capacity in Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Togo.

CDC leads PEPFAR Ghana’s strategic information activities, including efforts to improve estimates of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and the capability to capture and analyze data across the HIV Cascade from testing, initiation of treatment, and suppression of viral load to using data to drive decision- making. CDC assists in developing and conducting research studies on Key Populations (female sex workers [FSW] and men who have sex with men [MSM]). Together these efforts provide PEPFAR Ghana with the tools and data needed for strategic planning to best address and achieve goals.

Ghana.pdf