Does Ghana have enough medical supplies in its reserve for coronavirus? – Group asks

A policy think-tank, Stranek-Africa, has asked parliament to summon Ghana’s Health Minister to brief Ghanaians on the state of the country’s medical reserve and supplies as cases of coronavirus rise in Ghana.

It explained that it has become necessary for Ghana to assess its medical reserve capacity in dealing with the deadly covid-19 pandemic which has infected 27 people and killed persons with more than 590 persons being tracked for suspected infections.

The group said not much has been heard about the 8 million-cedi ultra-modern Central Medical Stores project started by the government following the destruction of the old one in Tema by fire in January 2014.

The Central Medical Store was the main facility where Ghana’s medical equipment and drugs were stored for distribution to health facilities across the country.

“Stranek-Africa makes a passionate call on Parliament of Ghana to summon the Minister of Health to present progress on the state of Ghana’s medical reserve and supplies in the wake of this Covid-19 pandemic,” it said.

For Stranek-Africa, the Central Medical Stores has an important role to play in Ghana’s effort at combating the novel Covid-19 pandemic that has triggered global health crisis and forced governments to put more than 1.5 billion people under lockdown globally.

“It also remains very critical as it lies at the base of our preparedness to control the blowout of the virus,” it said in a statement issued on the virus.

“Stranek-Africa is of the view that we cannot as a country rely on our neighbours or allies in times like these especially when they are faced with similar challenges and uncertainties” it added.

On the back of that, it has advised government to support local companies that can produce ventilators in support of the fight against COVID-19 as is being done in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and other countries.