The Ministry of Health (MoH) has given assurance in the clearance of remaining medical supplies received as part of the Global Fund’s ongoing support.
This comes at the heels of a notice served by the Coalition of CSOs in HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria to hit the streets in ten days if the government fails to clear the medications wasting away at the port.
Barely 24 hours after the notice from the Coalition of CSOs in HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the ministry through a press release explained that it is working to clear the 182 containers of the medical goods locked up at the Tema Ports.
It said between August 2023 and February 2024, it received 435 containers of anti-HIV, TB, and malaria medicines, along with mosquito nets, at the Tema Port for nationwide distribution. Out of these, 253 containers have been successfully cleared from the port with government support, leaving 182 containers remaining, adding that plans are far in advance to clear same.
“As part of on-going support by the Global Fund (GF) to the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the period between August 2023 and February 2024 received 435 containers at the Tema Port, containing anti-HIV, TB and malaria medicines and mosquito nets for distribution across the country”
“Out of the 435 containers, MoH successfully and expeditiously cleared 253 from the Port through the support of Government, with 182 containers remaining”
The ministry’s release further noted that the MoH management has initiated extensive engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS), and officials from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) as part of processes towards the expeditious clearance of the remaining containers.
The ministry however explained that it has developed a robust roadmap in collaboration with the MoF, GRA, and other stakeholders, which outlines the immediate next steps and the way forward to prevent future delays in clearing MoH medicines and other commodities.
The MoH aims to clear the remaining 182 containers, containing anti-HIV, TB, and malaria medicines and mosquito nets, by Friday, 12th April 2024. The ministry reassures stakeholders and the general public that the challenges associated with clearing MoH medicines and other commodities from the Tema Port and other points of entry have been conclusively and completely resolved by the Government.
“The management of MoH, has since initiated a process of extensive engagement with the management of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS), led by the Commissioner-General, Ms. Julie Essiam, and officials of Ministry of Finance (MoF), Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (CCM-Ghana), and Covid-19 Response Mechanism, aimed at securing the expeditious clearing of the remaining 182 containers, and forestalling future delays in the clearing of MoH medicines and other commodities”
Moving forward, the Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to consistently and meaningfully engage in ensuring that the health needs of all people living in Ghana continue to be their collective priority.
Below is Ministry of Health’s full statement
By: Bright Yao Dzakah | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
