Ghana’s Healthcare Crisis: CSO Networks Rally for Government Action
Human Rights Reporters
2 min read
In a stirring display of unity and advocacy, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ghana, specializing in HIV, TB, and Malaria, has sounded the alarm on a looming healthcare crisis that demands urgent government intervention.
Led by a consortium of esteemed leaders in the healthcare sector, including Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, Elsie Ayeh, Bright Amissah-Nyarko, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, Jerry Amoah-Larbi, and Eric Agbozo, the CSO Networks are mobilizing for a mass public demonstration to address critical issues affecting the country’s health system.
At the heart of the coalition’s concerns is the distressing situation at Tema Port, where essential health supplies worth over US$40 million, donated by the Global Fund, have been held up since May 2023.
These vital commodities, ranging from Antiretrovirals for HIV treatment to medications for TB and Malaria, are pivotal in ensuring the health and well-being of thousands of Ghanaians.
The protracted delay in clearing these supplies has caused severe shortages in healthcare facilities, putting patients’ lives at risk and placing undue pressure on healthcare providers.
Despite Global Fund’s unwavering support for Ghana’s healthcare initiatives, bureaucratic obstacles such as exorbitant taxes and port charges have impeded the timely release of these life-saving supplies.
The coalition, in collaboration with Global Fund representatives, has tirelessly advocated for the swift clearance of these critical medications to avert potential expiration and safeguard public health.
In addition to the port impasse, the coalition has also raised alarm over Ghana’s co-financing commitment for the upcoming Grant Cycle Seven (GC7) with Global Fund.
The country’s obligation to contribute 15% of the US$248 million grant, amounting to approximately US$45 million, is imperative for bolstering health systems and sustaining progress in combating HIV, TB, and Malaria. However, delays in signing the agreement letter by the Ministers of Health and Finance have jeopardized the release of essential funds earmarked for health system strengthening.
In response to these pressing issues, the CSO Networks have announced plans for a mass public demonstration on April 17, 2024, inviting activists and concerned citizens from all corners of Ghana to join their cause.
In a crucial presser held on Monday April 8, 2024, the Coalition announced publicly that the demonstration will culminate in a petition to the Presidency and Parliament, urging swift action to address the bottlenecks in healthcare supply chain management and fulfil Ghana’s co-financing obligations to Global Fund.
The proposed demonstration route, starting from Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange and winding through key landmarks to Parliament, symbolizes a unified front in advocating for equitable access to healthcare services for all Ghanaians.
The coalition’s unwavering commitment to championing public health underscores the urgency of the situation and the imperative for government accountability and action.
As Ghana grapples with critical healthcare challenges, the collective voice of the CSO Networks resonates as a clarion call for transparency, collaboration, and decisive leadership in safeguarding the health and well-being of the nation’s citizens.
Source:Joseph Kobla Wemakor
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