The Non-State Actors for Health and Development Ghana on Wednesday called on the Ministry of Health to ensure it re-stocks the country’s regional medical stores and health facilities with Anti-Retroviral drugs, which has currently run out.
They further urged the Ministry of Finance to urgently release clearance for Anti-Retroviral drugs that had been stocked at Ghana’s port for some time now.
According to the Actors, the country was currently facing shortages of ARVs across various regions, especially in Ashanti and Eastern, creating serious situations where clients, involving Persons Living with HIV had been turned away by health facilities due to the shortages and non-availability of these medications.
Ms Juliana Narh, the Eastern Regional Correspondent for NAP+ (NAP+) said a follow-up to some regional health facilities including the St. Joseph Catholic; Atua Government; Nkawkaw, St. Martin; Nsawam Government; and New Abrem hospitals respectively confirmed situations of total stock-outs.
She said other places reported of limited supplies where a bottle of ARV was shared among three clients, and others were given two weeks or ten days to return for further medications.
Ms Priscilla Addo, the representative of the Young Health Advocate Ghana, said the issue shortages if not resolved could spell doom for the over 21,000 young people living with HIV, and deflate the population of active youth who were working towards the country’s development.
Madam Jacqueline Commodor who is the advocacy office with Non State Actors said ARVs had been a major life-saver for PLHIV, and their shortage could lead to lapses in the treatment regime, leading to drug resistance and other severe complications that could adversely erode all the gains made towards achieving the 90-90-90 target.
