Ghana is on the brink of a health crisis as the Global Fund halts shipments of crucial medical supplies due to delays in clearing previous donations stuck at Tema Port. This includes essential antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients.
The Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACHPR&A) has expressed serious concerns over the government’s sluggish response in expediting the release of these donated supplies.
Dr. Thomas Anaba, Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis, did not hold back in criticizing the government’s lackadaisical approach to clearing vital health commodities during an interview.
He stressed the urgency of the situation, highlighting the futile visit of a Global Fund delegation that yielded no progress.
The delays have also raised alarms at the Ghana AIDS Commission and a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focusing on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
The CSOs have announced a protest on April 17th to address the prolonged detention of essential medical supplies.
“A 12-member delegation from the Global Fund paid a working visit to this country to follow up on the locked-up commodities. In spite of 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.”
