CSOs Urge Government to Expedite Clearance of Essential Family Planning Commodities Stuck at Tema Port

A coalition of 55 civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on reproductive health in Ghana is urgently calling on the government to clear essential family planning (FP) commodities and other medical supplies that have been stuck at the Tema port for over seven months. The delay threatens to cause a nationwide shortage of these critical supplies, which could lead to a surge in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and increased maternal mortality.

The FP commodities, valued at $1.61 million, were donated to Ghana by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in February 2024. According to the coalition, the delay in clearing these supplies is due to unpaid duties, which have now accrued demurrage fees. This has resulted in severe shortages of contraceptives at central and regional medical stores, as well as health facilities across the country.

The coalition warns that the shortage of FP commodities poses a significant threat to Ghana’s efforts to improve health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health. The group used MSI’s impact calculator to estimate that the availability of these supplies could have helped avert 2,514 child deaths, 255 maternal deaths, 67,728 unsafe abortions, and 199,182 unintended pregnancies. Furthermore, the government could have saved over 200 million Ghana cedis in direct healthcare costs.

This crisis comes at a time when Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to improving reproductive health. The recent launch of the Ghana Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (GFPCIP) aims to ensure that by 2030, all persons of reproductive age have equitable access to quality FP information, commodities, and services, in line with the global FP2030 goals. However, the current delay in clearing essential FP supplies casts doubt on the government’s commitment to these targets, as well as the African Union Agenda 2063 and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The coalition has issued a strong call to action, urging the government to:

• Expedite the clearance of the FP commodities by promptly settling unpaid duties and accrued demurrage fees.
• Implement proactive measures to prevent future delays in handling donated medical supplies.
• Conduct thorough quality control assessments of the cleared FP commodities to ensure their safety and integrity.

The CSO coalition stressed that the government must prioritize reproductive health and work closely with stakeholders to meet its national and global family planning commitments. Failure to address these issues risks not only undermining Ghana’s international reputation but also jeopardizing future partnerships and donations.

The coalition remains committed to working with the government to ensure that the health outcomes of Ghanaians, particularly in reproductive health, are significantly improved.

Source : zaaradio.com