locked up medical supplies in Tema Port contributing to the surge in cases of TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS – CSO

Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis, Dr. Thomas Anaba, has disclosed that the locked-up medical supplies have led to a surge in tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS cases.

Dr. Anaba told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM monitored by Ghananewsonline  that a major widespread of tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS looms in comparison to last year’s figures.

“There is an increase in the cases of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS from last year’s figure, and the complications of people dying from AIDS has also increased. Women getting malaria during pregnancy has increased because of this.”

He suggested that Ghana should communicate the quantity of supplies needed ahead of time to the Global Fund and make budgetary allocations for clearance to avert future delays.

“Ghana has the statistics of how many people get tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS every year and this can be planned with a top-up percentage of 10 percent and then we can budget for how much of these drugs that we need and then we contact Global Fund on how much they can give us ahead of time and then we budget for money to clear the drugs.”

Meanwhile the Ministry of Health has announced that delays in clearing life-saving medicines at Tema port will soon be a thing of the past.

According to the Public Relations Officer, Isaac Offei Baah, the Ministry is prepared to clear 182 containers at the port containing anti-HIV, TB, and malaria medicines, as well as mosquito nets, by Friday, April 12, 2024.

Source: Ghananewsonline / Mercy Aboagye