Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Health Minister, is expected to brief Parliament today, March 7, on the steps being taken to address the country’s shortage of childhood vaccines.
Several parts of the country have experienced vaccine shortages in recent months, despite claims by the National Health Insurance Authority that over GH70 million has been set aside for vaccine procurement.
The worrying situation has piqued the interest of Nana Ayew Afriyie, Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, who sees the need to summon the Minister of Health and other agency heads to an emergency meeting on Tuesday, February 28.
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The Health Minister, who was scheduled to appear in the House on February 28, 2023, did not appear, enraging the Minority. The absence of the Health Minister was described as disrespectful by Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, a former Minority Chief Whip and member of Parliament’s Health Committee.
He claimed that Mr. Agyemang-Manu should be summoned for disrespecting Parliament’s Health Committee.
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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has acknowledged vaccine shortages and blamed the situation on the cedi’s free fall against major trading currencies, particularly the dollar.
The reports, according to the Paediatric Society of Ghana, are just the tip of the iceberg, as more facilities are reporting a measles outbreak.
According to Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, the country will take stock of some measles vaccines from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the coming week.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to divert funds intended for this year’s Independence Day celebrations to address the country’s shortage of child vaccines.