Our reporter
Global Fund has halted the shipment of crucial medical supplies to Ghana, citing delays in clearing previous donations stuck at one of the country’s seaports, Tema Port.
According to findings, this suspension includes urgently needed antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients.
Already, the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis has expressed deep concern over the government’s failure to expedite the release of the donated supplies.
In an interview with one of Ghana’s top media houses, JoyNews on Monday, the Executive Director of ACHPR&A, Dr Thomas Anaba, condemned the government’s lax approach in addressing the issue of clearing vital health commodities.
He underscored the pressing nature of the situation, noting that even a visit from a delegation of the Global Fund yielded no progress.
The delays have also raised alarms within the Ghana AIDS Commission and a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, focusing on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
In response to the prolonged detention of essential medical supplies, the CSOs have announced plans for a protest scheduled for April 17.
The CSOs stated, “A 12-member delegation from the Global Fund paid a working visit to this country to follow up on the locked-up commodities. Despite all their efforts, they did not make any headway and the commodities still remain uncleared at the ports.”
“They have, therefore, indicated that Ghana risks losing all Global Fund Support if the government fails to act on the matter. To start with, they have already suspended all commodity shipments to the country until the ones at the ports are cleared.”
“This development has dire consequences for the hundreds of thousands of our compatriots on free medications donated by Global Fund.”
