In March 2024 when the Global Fund threatened to suspend the shipment of crucial medical supplies to Ghana citing delays in clearing previous donations stuck at the Tema Port, the ripple effect was felt.
“As I sit here, those ARVs have not arrived. In fact, they cannot be traced,” President of the National Association of Persons Living with HIV Elsie Ayeh said when the development came up.
For thousands of Ghanaians living with HIV, each day became a battle against uncertainty. Their lifeline, antiretroviral drugs, risks running dangerously low, when stockpiles are depleted. With no clear answers on when or if new supplies will arrive, frustration and fear are mounting.
Even the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) weighed in and indicated that some facilities are already relying on others for important medications.
Now imagine this sentiment, but this time on a larger scale and for a reason that no one saw coming… well almost.
The US sneezed and Africa caught cold.
U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Day 1 in office, a move which has triggered a new potential crisis that threatens the fragility of global health supply chains and the dire consequences of disruptions.
WHO said in a statement it “regrets” Trump’s announcement and that it looks forward to constructive talks to maintain a partnership with the United States “for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
The United States is generally scaling back its foreign aid commitments, and Ghana stands to lose a significant amount in the process.
