As part of its response strategy towards supporting member countries to manage and curtail the spread of COVID-19, the United Nations (UN) with the support of the World Bank, has donated medical supplies worth $360,000.00 to Ghana.
The donation which was made through the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) in Ghana includes; 4,970 Gene Expert Cartridges, 15,000 pieces of KN 95 Respirator Masks, 32 Patient Monitors, and a number of Shields, Examination Gloves, Goggles, Gowns, and Medical Masks.
Dr. Neema Kimambo, Acting Country Representative for WHO in Ghana, during the handover ceremony said that since Ghana recorded its first COVID-19 cases, the United Nations’ together with its Health Partners have supported in capacity-building efforts, the provision of logistics as well as technical assistance in coordinating the overall response in Ghana. She also added that, to date, WHO has supported the training of about 600 contact tracers.
The items which are estimated to cost $360,000.00 are expected to be distributed to the various Treatment Centers, the National Ambulance Service, and some selected laboratories in regions with a high burden of COVID-19 cases.
The Ghanaian Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu in a statement recounted the confusion and uncertainty that plagued most countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic almost 12 months ago. He further recalled all the emergency preparedness machinery that was activated and how much support the country received from its development partners.
He acknowledged with regret, how the country seems to be “in that same situation again, getting increases on a daily basis with facilities virtually full”, and therefore called on all Ghanaians to strictly adhere to all the safety protocols since the law enforcement agencies had been mandated to enforce them.
Hon. Agyemang-Manu said he was very grateful to the UN and its agencies for their unflinching support to the Government of Ghana and was hopeful that together, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic would be won.
COVID-19 statistics from the World Health Organization show that Ghana has so far recorded over 67,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 400 deaths.
