The Ministry of Health has launched the National Workplace HIV and Wellness Policy to boost the health outcomes of the workforce as well as ensure productivity at the workplace.
The policy initiated by the Ministry of Health seeks to target the working population in the country who have HIV and implement strategies for improving their health needs and ensuring that they are given the needed support and attention, as well as shield them from stigmatization.
The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, launched the National Workplace HIV and Wellness Policy on behalf of the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. In her speech, she appealed to employers and institutions to promote healthier, stigma-free work environments, ensuring people living with the disease can work effectively without discrimination and stigmatization.
She asserted that organizations must ensure that the health information of their staff is kept accurate and confidential. The health information of workers, she said, should be confidential and not known to other colleagues as it is likely to lead to stigmatization and discrimination, further impacting negatively on their health. Releasing the health information of employees to their colleagues exposes them to potential ridicule and stigmatization, which does not conform to the laws of the state.
People living with HIV should not be open to public stigmatization and reproach, and to prevent that, their health information cannot be disclosed to other people. This is not just an offence punishable by law but also a silent killer to many living with HIV.
Voluntary Testing Of HIV At The Workplace To Be Implemented
Prof. Danquah also noted that there should be voluntary testing in the workplace to know the status of the workers. This will provide timely help as the individuals involved will be given support and drugs, and prevent the occurrence of the disease escalating because the person was not aware.
She opined that the policy forms part of the government’s broader agenda to improve population health, reduce preventable diseases, protect the workforce, and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Prof. Danquah emphasized that HIV remains a major public health and development limitation, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. The situation has had negative impacts on households, productivity, and national development. She emphasized that the workplace is an important avenue for prevention, education, counselling, and testing.
She noted that reducing stigmatization and offering support for treatment can all be done at the workplace. She explained that the policy adopts an all-inclusive approach to workplace wellness, implementing HIV interventions with broader health procedures such as routine screening, mental health awareness, nutrition, and physical activity.
The Deputy Minister for Education, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, asserted that the strategy is in line with the Ministry’s focus on prevention and early intervention, as well as the Government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
The Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, she opined, covers the routine testing, counselling support, and the provision of antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV. Citizens are therefore encouraged to take advantage of this initiative.
“Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu urged workplaces to ensure accurate health information, protect confidentiality, encourage voluntary testing, and support treatment for persons living with HIV.”
Ministry of Health
Among the people present was the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmecelle Prosper Akanbong. He confirmed that 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 emphasized that this leaves a significant gap in access to care and support. He emphasized that the workplace is a serious access point for HIV response efforts, this is because people spend a lot of time at work, and called for effective implementation of the policy across both public and private sectors to guarantee early detection, support, and linkage to care in line with the principle of leaving no one behind.
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