Ghana will from Tuesday, April 7, 2020 begin the local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as the country intensifies the fight against the deadly Coronavirus.
This is due to the shortage of the already procured PPEs which are essential for the protection of frontline health workers risking their lives every day to battle the virus.
The Coronavirus pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on global healthcare systems, with the surge in medical needs exposing yawning gaps in inventory of PPEs.
Addressing the nation on Sunday, President Akufo-Addo said the government has placed a high priority on the procurement of PPEs.
He added that the Ministry of Health was spearheading the distribution of the PPEs from the national level to the regional and district levels.
“This, notwithstanding, Government is aware that more needs to be done, especially in the face of the global shortage of PPEs. It is for this reason that Government is actively engaged with local manufacturing companies to assist them in the domestic production of PPEs, and I am encouraged by the response from the Ghanaian private sector.
“Domestic production of face masks, head covers, surgical scrubs and gowns will commence from Tuesday. For example, three million, six hundred thousand face masks will be produced domestically, with an output of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) per day”, the President stressed.
Nana Akufo-Addo announced that thus far, 350,000 masks, 558,650 examination gloves, 1,000 reusable goggles, 20,000 cover-alls, 7,000 N-95 respirators, 500 waterproof gumboots, 2,000 reusable face shields, 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizers, 10,000 100ml pieces of hand sanitizers, and five 500 shoe covers will soon be dispatched to the various health facilities.
President Akufo-Addo has in the past expressed hope that Ghana will take advantage of the pandemic to position itself as a self-reliant country and bring to an end the assistance it receives from other foreign countries.
The country has so far confirmed 214 cases of the novel Coronavirus with five deaths.
By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH
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