Alhaji Hafiz Adam with officials from GRA From Port and the Finance Ministry holding a sample of the essential health commodity
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has completed the process for the release of 14 essential medicine containers at the Tema Port.
These were from the 182 containers with essential medicines for antiretroviral, Tuberculosis (TB), and malaria treatments donated by the Global Fund (GF) locked up at the Tema Port.
The clearing of the essential medicines follows calls by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) and other organisations.
“Today, 14 containers of health commodities comprising 10 containers of malaria RDT containers, one container of malaria injection, three containers of malaria medicine will be delivered to a warehouse,” Chief Director of the MoH, Alhaji Hafiz Adam said.
Alhaji Adam said the 14 containers cost about GH¢17 million to clear, adding that they contain non-medicine commodities such as bed nets and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs).
He further added that approximately 168 more containers are to be cleared.
“From January 1 to April 12, 2024, there have been 34 shipments through KIA and four shipments through Port of Tema. The recent shipment of antiretroviral drugs of nine containers arrived at Tema Port on April 7, 2024 and the clearing process is likely to be completed with delivery to the warehouse expected shortly not later than April 19, 2024,” he said.
The MoH Chief Director also expressed hope that the MoF, its agencies, and the public would continue to support the ministry in fulfilling its mandate of providing quality healthcare access to the public.
Meanwhile, the MoH in a statement on April 9 assured its stakeholders and the public that significant progress had been made in clearing the remaining 182 out of 435 containers at the Tema Port, holding antiretroviral, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria medicines.
“We wish to re-assure our stakeholders and the general public that the challenges associated with the clearing of MoH medicines and other commodities from the Tema Port and other points of entry have been conclusively and completely resolved by the Government,” the MoH added in a release issued on Tuesday, April 9.
The MoH explained in the statement that, as part of the Global Fund’s ongoing support to the Government of Ghana, it received 435 containers at the Tema Port between August 2023 and February 2024 containing anti-HIV, TB and malaria medicines and mosquito nets for distribution across the country.
Out of the 435 containers, the MoH said it successfully and swiftly cleared 253 from the port with the support of the government, leaving 182 containers.
The MoH reaffirmed its commitment, along with the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other stakeholders, to consistently and meaningfully engage in ensuring that the health needs of all people living in the country are their collective priority.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri