A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has issued a warning about a health crisis in Ghana after the Global Fund decided to suspend shipments of essential medical supplies to the country.
This suspension follows the government’s failure to clear a previous shipment of vital medicines delivered to the nation.
The CSOs have criticized the government’s lackadaisical approach to clearing these essential medical supplies, citing delays at the Tema Port. They have announced plans to stage a demonstration on April 17 to protest against these delays and highlight the potential risks to public health.
The affected medicines include crucial antiretroviral drugs needed for HIV/AIDS patients, as well as medications for tuberculosis and malaria prevention and treatment.
Stakeholders within Ghana’s health sector have expressed deep concern over the Global Fund’s decision, emphasizing that it could result in preventable deaths and widespread disease outbreaks across the country.
Dr. Thomas Anaba, the Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACHPR&A), warned that the government’s negligence in expediting the release of these donated supplies could have catastrophic consequences.
Despite receiving a delegation from the Global Fund, the government has reportedly failed to take action to clear the life-saving medicines from the port.
The Ghana Aids Commission, along with CSOs focusing on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, have raised alarm over the prolonged delay in clearing these critical medicines. They have accused the government of lacking the political will necessary to address the situation.
In response to these concerns, the coalition of CSOs has announced its intention to stage a protest on April 17 to express their dissatisfaction and demand urgent action from the government to resolve the clearance issue and avert the potential health crisis facing Ghana.
