The United States government has so far provided some US$19million to fight COVID-19, which is helping to mitigate the immediate and medium-term effects of the pandemic on health and basic education systems, the hard-hit private sector, and northern Ghana in particular.
In the health sector, the support includes clinical care and laboratory capacity-building for health staff and disseminating public messages to increase knowledge and awareness around COVID-19, and to address misinformation.
Additionally, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also supports the government of Ghana to deliver life-saving supplies and commodities across the country: including personal protective equipment and essential supplies such as hand sanitisers, chlorine, and Veronica buckets.
According to a statement released by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Accra, the US continues to lead the global COVID-19 pandemic response. “These efforts are made possible through the American people’s generosity.”
This emerged as USAID and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) launched the COVID-19 Critical Case Management Training at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC) in Ga East, Greater Accra.
The U.S. government-funded training comes at a critical time, given the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Ghana. Select clinicians from each of the 16 regions will receive a four-week intensive, hands-on training on the proper management of COVID-19 severe and critical cases.
USAID/Ghana’s Acting Health Office Director, Dr. Stephen Dzisi who joined Ghana Health Service representatives at the opening ceremony, reiterated the U.S. government’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ghana’s COVID-19 response.
He said: “We are proud of our strong partnership with the government of Ghana to improve the health and well-being of all Ghanaians through a resilient healthcare system. An infectious disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere; it is vital that we continue to join forces to fight this pandemic.”
The training will impart skills such as oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and the management of COVID-19-related complications. Clinicians will actively contribute to the management of cases at GIDC and gain essential skills to support their respective region’s COVID-19 response.
Clinicians will also receive an Intensive Care Unit ‘starter kit’ – an essential package of supplies to support their work.
