The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) has intimated that government must show commitment by providing the manufacturers with all the equipment required to set up a vaccine manufacturing base in Ghana.
The Executive Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana, Lucia Addae,;speaking in a media interaction noted that the Association is ready to start the production but if the government fails to do its part, there would be catastrophic failure to the project.
This call comes on the back of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s promise;to inject a seed fund of $25 million into the setting up of the National Vaccine Institute. PMAG
Lucia Addae further revealed that engagement is ongoing to ensure that,;government purchases the vaccines from whichever company which invests in the vaccines manufacturing.
“So, whether it is a consortium of companies or one company,;government would ensure that money is put in to…of course,;the equipment coming would have VAT and other benefits being subsidized.
“The investment has not yet started but once it starts or we start the engagement,;we would ensure that anything that is needed,;the government would give it to us so that this will become a success. Because, if not, we will have serious challenges.”
Lucia Addae
According to the pharmaceutical manufacturers, there would be no need to import or rely on donor countries for the supply of vaccines if we had the system in place.
“It is important that Ghana will ensure that when it comes to medicine security,;we have that self-sufficiency that we don’t need to rely on donors or other countries to take care of us.”
Lucia Addae
President’s directive, step in right direction
Meanwhile, Senior Research Fellow at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Dr. Kofi Bonney, has commended President Akufo-Addo for reintroducing restrictions on social gatherings to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Speaking on the President’s 26th address to the nation, Dr. Bonney was of the view that the President’s directive was a step in the right direction as the new Delta COVID-19 variant is highly transmissible.
“The measures put in place by the government will help. The ban on public gatherings will help and especially the mandatory wearing of nose masks will be very beneficial.
“At Noguchi, we always publicize the need to wear nose masks and wear them well. So, it is commendable that the President has put these measures in place. It is very important that post-event receptions have also been banned because it is at these events that people let down their guards; avoiding social distancing and the wearing of nose masks”.
Dr. Kofi Bonney
Dr. Kofi Bonney, however, noted that the importation of the Delta variants from the airports must also be checked.
“People travelling from high-risk areas such as India must be isolated for about a week;when they arrive even though they may have certificates. They must also be tested after a week. This because the virus has an incubative period and as such symptoms do not show immediately.”
Dr. Kofi Bonney
