By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Nov 06, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana is being weaned off the Gavi vaccine support programme, with the country expected to procure its own vaccines by 2030.
The President made the announcement in his remarks at the Ghana Medical Association’s Annual National Conference at Miotso near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, on the theme “The No Bed Syndrome: Reimagining a Befitting Emergency Response System for Ghana”.
“Let me also inform you that Ghana is being weaned off the Gavi programme. By 2030, we are expected to procure our own vaccines,” he stated.
“We are currently procuring approximately 50 per cent of our vaccines, but I can assure you that we will be ready by 2030,” he added.
The President said alongside the development of specialised care, they were sustaining the public health services that communities needed every day.
He noted that the 2026 Budget provides support for vaccines, essential commodities and priority health programmes.
“We will continue to strengthen domestic financing for immunisation, HIV and AIDS care, tuberculosis and malaria services, as well as disease surveillance and laboratory capacity,” he said.
The President expressed his appreciation to the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi, the Global Fund and their other health partners for their continued cooperation in sustaining these services.
He said prevention also requires action on the conditions that harm health; adding that the Ghana Medical Association’s work on antimicrobial resistance and the health effects of environmental pollution, including illegal mining and lead exposure, helps inform that action.
The President said the Government would continue to draw on your evidence and professional advice.
He said primary healthcare, oral and mental health would also receive attention as part of their wider efforts to improve prevention and early care.
He noted that the Government was looking at providing mobile clinics equipped with dental facilities.
“We will deploy dentists to move from community to community to provide dental services and attend to the oral health needs of the people,” President Mahama said.
He announced that the Government was procuring 100 new ambulances to restock the fleet of the National Ambulance Service.
He said the Ambulance Service had also informed us that 100 broken-down ambulances could be restored to service if they procure the necessary spare parts.
“We will therefore purchase 100 new ambulances and procure the parts required to bring another 100 ambulances back into service.”
The President said the Government would also soon undertake a feasibility study of the sewage systems of all major government health facilities, with a view to repairing them and preventing the discharge of medical effluents into their drains and water bodies.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade