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The UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary General Ms. Jan Beagle was in Ghana for an official visit to induct Ghana into the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), the body of UNAIDS charged with responsibility of the Global AIDS response.

Ghana was selected as a Vice Chair at the last meeting of the Board in October 2015, with Switzerland elected as the 2016 Chair, and Ecuador as Rapporteur. This position implies that Ghana occupies a strategic position to contribute to the global response to ending AIDS by 2030 as it automatically occupies the seat of Chair in 2017.

While in the country, Ms. Jan Beagles met with the Hon Minister of Health Mr. Alex Segbefia to orientate him on global health diplomacy issues as vice chair of PCB and discuss wide ranging multilateral issues concerning the functions of the world body at the October board meeting. Mr. Segbefia said “We maintain our commitment to the Global AIDS response leading to end of AIDS by 20130 at the highest political level”, while Mr. Haile Girmay UNAIDS Country Director added that “The vision set by the governing body of UNAIDS and its leadership sends a vision that can be achieved to end AIDS”.

Ms. Beagles also used the opportunity of the visit to mobilize commitment by the political leadership of Ghana for strategic engagement for the High Level Session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV and AIDS, and the attainment of a strong Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS (June 2016), when she meets H.E. President Mahama.

Ms. Beagles commended the “achievements Ghana has attained in reduction of new infections and in stabilizing the HIV prevalence rate at 2%”, while Dr. Angela El Addas Director General of GAC further elaborated that “Ending the AIDS epidemic means AIDS will no longer be a public health threat because it will be dealt with as everyday health concern”.

While in the country, Ms Jan Beagles also participated in the 7th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights (ACSHR 2016) held in Accra, Ghana, from February 8– 12, 2016. This conference was organized by Ghana Youth NGO, Curious Minds, and was held on the continental conference theme: "Realizing Demographic Dividend in Africa: the Critical Importance of Adolescents and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights". Her focus was on the launch of “Ending Child Marriage campaign” and The Organization of African First Ladies against AIDS (OAFLA) launch of the “United Continental Adolescent All-In HIV Prevention campaign”. The Conference was part of a long-term process of building and fostering regional dialogues on sexual reproductive health and rights on the African continent, a subject at the heart of Ms. Jan Beagles. “We cannot afford to leave adolescents behind. We must make a decisive decision to ensure that young people have access to youth friendly combination prevention services including testing and treatment”, she reiterated.

She also hold Strategic engagements with Ghana AIDS Commission Steering Committee, a cross section of stakeholders including civil society, women leaders and People Living with HIV (PLHIV), as well as Development Partners and strategic meeting with the UN Country Team on UN Reform processes to gain their support for the new bold, ambitious yet achievable UNAIDS Fast Track 90 90 90 Strategy (2016 – 2021).

UNAIDS is guided by Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) which serves as its governing body. The PCB has representation from 22 governments globally, the 11 UNAIDS co-sponsors and 5 non-governmental organizations including associations of PLHIVs. It also carries out programmatic functions concerning policy, strategy, finance, monitoring and evaluation of UNAIDS. Effective January 2015, Ghana is a vice chair of PCB. This meeting was to induct Ghana’s Minister of health as regards his role and responsibilities as the vice chair of the UNAIDS PCB.