Former Information Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government should not be embarrassed to admit that it reached out to Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire for urgent bailout on Ghana's avoidable and indefensible shortage of childhood vaccines.
According to the MP, sunday's consignment came in from Nigeria as a benevolent gesture which the Ghanaian government has promised to replace when it finally puts its house in order.
"Why is the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government not willing to publicly admit that it begged Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire to bailout Ghana on the indefensible shortage of childhood vaccines?
"Why is our government embarrassed to accept that yesterday's vaccine consignment were borrowed from Nigeria," he tweeted on Monday afteroon.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong saying Thank You to a neighbour who exhibits superior public health policies, better prioritization, and who responds positively and swiftly when you come begging," he added.
The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, told the media yesterday that the government had procured stocks that were enough to last beyond this year, but they were being received in batches.
He said the first consignment would take not less than six weeks, stressing that it was absolutely free from any charges.
He said more vaccines would be coming in the course of the week up to two weeks.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye appealed to parents of eligible children to visit their respective child welfare clinics to get their children vaccinated.
He explained that the GHS was going to continue with the routine process with an in-facility catch-up strategy put in place to vaccinate children who missed their vaccines.
Background
The Daily Graphic, after a nationwide check, reported about the shortage of the three vaccines in the Thursday, February 23, 2023 edition of the newspaper.
The situation was perceived to have the potential to increase the vulnerability of children to the diseases against which the vaccines sought to protect them.
The three vaccines are part of the 10 that give protection against 13 conditions.
Following the reportage, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, and Dr Kuma-Aboagye, and on different platforms, acknowledged the shortage and assured the public that the government was working hard to accelerate the restocking of those vaccines.
The minister told Parliament last week that the government had paid an additional $6.4 million to UNICEF to facilitate the procurement and delivery of the vaccines.
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Source: Peacefmonline
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The truth is always bitter. Everything that opposition talks about it’s they want to win elections. If that will let them win so be it else don’t give them they opportunity by doing right things. You did same but now crying wolf . Sit up
So childish ! You and those in NDC always want the worst to happen. You think that will win you an election? As JDM will say this is silly! You have too much time on your hands.
So childish ! You and those in NDC always the worst to happen. You think that will win you an election? As JDM will this is silly! You have too much time on your hands.
ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE IN PARLIAMENT MAKING LAWS FOR CITIZENS. I DON'T BLAME HIM; I BLAME THOSE WHO VOTED FOR SUCH A PERSON TO PARLIAMENT. IS THIS AN ISSUE? IF YOU NEED SOMETHING URGENTLY AND A FRIEND HAS AND YOU BEG HIM TO GIVE YOU SOME AND THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM!!
THIS IS JUST BELOW THE BELT ON THE PART OF THIS HOE-TEETH GUY! WHAT IS WRONG IN A PRESIDENT BEGGING FOR CRITICAL DRUGS TO SAVE PEOPLE IN HIS COUNTRY? HAS HE NOT PLEDGED TO REPLACE THEM? PLEASE THIS IS JUST TOO HOLLOW AND LAME POINT IN YOUR QUEST FOR GLORY! YOU ARE BEING GOADED TO YOUR DOOM; BETTER WISE UP HONOURABLE