US supports coronavirus vaccine deployment in Ghana

Health news for Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Source: GNA

03/02/2021

The United States congratulated Ghana on the successful launch of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign on March 1.

A statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Accra, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the campaign was made possible through COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

He recalled that the United States recently announced a commitment to provide an initial amount of $ 2 billion – out of a planned total of $ 4 billion – to COVAX Advance Market Commitment, making the United States the largest contributor to the international response to COVID-19.

“Ghana is the first country in the world to have received COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility,” he said.

According to the statement, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US contribution would support the purchase and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations. in 92 low- and middle-income countries.

“This support is essential to control the pandemic, slow the emergence of new variants and help restart the global economy,” he said.

He said in view of the launch and the example set by Ghana’s first and second couples and other prominent figures in receiving the first vaccinations,

Ms. Stephanie Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, reiterated the U.S. partnership with Ghana and commends the government of Ghana for its unremitting commitment to reduce transmission and stem the spread of the virus, paving the way for construction of a stronger and more resilient Ghana. The ambassador encouraged everyone to “Protect yourself, protect your family, get vaccinated against the coronavirus”, the theme of the vaccination campaign.

The statement said the U.S. government would provide additional funding for the COVAX facility until 2022 and work with other donors to make new pledges and commitments to meet the critical needs of the facility.

He said the U.S. government is committed to working with partners and governments to support global COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with a focus on immunizing vulnerable populations.

According to the statement, for 60 years, the US government, through USAID, worked with Ghana’s health sector to build capacity and strengthen services that have helped improve the health of Ghanaians.

He said that to support Ghana’s response to COVID-19, to date USAID has provided $ 19 million to address the immediate and medium-term effects of COVID-19 on the health, agriculture and education, and to support the hard-hit private sector. .

He said USAID has supported the Department of Health to train health workers in intensive care for COVID-19; disseminate social and behavioral change messages to increase knowledge and awareness of COVID-19, including increasing the number of people who receive the COVID-19 vaccine and deliver life-saving supplies and commodities across the country.

The statement said that in addition to USAID’s efforts, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provided critical technical assistance to strengthen contact tracing, surveillance, and laboratory activities.

He said the US Department of Defense coordinated donations of personal protective equipment and medical supplies to help frontline health workers as well as testing supplies to increase Ghana’s testing capacity.

He said that the US government’s Power Africa initiative recently supported the electrification of 65 health facilities in the Ashanti region using solar power, allowing the facilities to operate at night, to diversify their services and to expand their services. ensure a cold chain of vaccines that extends to rural areas.

He added that the United States had facilitated the redeployment by the Ghanaian armed forces of one of two state-of-the-art US-donated peacekeeping field hospitals to a COVID-19 treatment facility. USAID is the leading U.S. government agency working to end extreme global poverty and enable democratic and resilient societies to realize their potential.

USAID’s activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana’s journey to self-reliance and advance an integrated approach to development.

It promotes accountability, sustainable systems and inclusive development.