Preparing Datasets for a National Response

Created in 2002 by Act 613 the Ghana AIDS Commission established Monitoring Evaluation Focal Persons at all levels to facilitate the coordination of the national response against HIV/AIDS. This decentralised monitoring mechanism effectively addresses the complex nature of the determinants of HIV transmission. The Focal Persons ensure the implementation of Local ME Plans. They do this by collecting, collating and compiling routine data for assessing the local response to HIV/AIDS. Various open data storage and retrieval tools (CRIS, EpiInfo) are available to assist in this vein. Although information may be collected at all levels, lapses in standardisation of reporting formats may lead to decision-making vacuums because some agencies have different ME targets. nbsp;Although facing enormous challenges, the HIV/AIDS ME experience in Ghana has been successful because community, district, regional, national and global monitoring are linked to a common goal set out in the national ME plan.