Lead Conveyor and President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS network Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, has shed light on the critical impact of the dire situation of essential commodities funded by the Global Fund which are stuck at the Tema port.
Ortsin highlighted that the Global Fund, inspired by the late Kofi Annan’s vision during his tenure as UN Secretary-General, has been a vital source of support for Ghana since 2002. However, recent challenges have arisen due to discrepancies between provided funds and increased port charges.
“We have a situation where the Global Fund last year, starting from May, initiated shipments of essential commodities including HIV anti-retroviral drugs, tuberculosis medications, ACTs for malaria treatment, treated bed nets, cartridges, and more,” he explained in an interview with Helen Appiah-Ampofo on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on April 10.
He further elaborated that the Global Fund typically covers a percentage of the cost for clearing these commodities at the port, providing $400,000 for charges. However, with revised port charges amounting to $3.6 billion, a significant shortfall has emerged, leading to a deadlock.
“The Global Fund has indicated that, as per their framework agreement with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, they are not obligated to pay taxes and levies beyond their provided funds. However, the government argues that additional levies such as the ECOWAS levy, African Union Levy, and COVID-19 levy must be covered,” Ortsin stated.
The consequences of these delays are dire, particularly with the onset of the rainy season, known for increased malaria cases. Ortsin emphasized that the stuck bed nets meant for distribution to vulnerable groups exceptional pregnant women and children under the ages of 5 could exacerbate malaria incidences.
“You know we are about to enter into the rainy season and normally through the rainy season, issues of malaria go up because of stagnant waters, mosquitoes breeding and all of these things. So, what normally happens is that around this time, we distribute treated bed nets to pregnant women and children under five. So, there are interventions where these nets are shared in schools and then also at the health facilities for pregnant women. As we speak, these bed nets are stuck at the port, so it means that this year we will not be able to do those interventions if they continue to remain at the port” he asserted.
He emphasized the shortage of TB medications poses a severe threat, as TB treatment requires strict adherence,” If you look at TB, government of Ghana is unable to buy TB medications, so it is only the global fund that gives us the TB medications. As we speak there is a shortage of this and you know how dangerous TB is, the moment you contract the disease and you are put on treatment, if you stop, you are just going to lose your life,” Ortsin warned.
Moreover, the shortage of HIV medications has sparked anxiety within the People Living with HIV (PHIV) community. He said, “With HIV, when you are stable on treatment, you are given 6months supply or 3-month supply so that you don’t go to the hospital frequently. Presently, what is happening is that because of the shortage, they now give them only 1-month supply.”
According to Ortsin, the Global Fund has made it clear that until the port clearance issue is resolved, further shipments will be halted, exacerbating an already precarious situation. However, actions have been put in place if government do not see to the clearance of the medical supplies.
By Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi