President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana is on course to graduate from support provided by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, by 2030.
The country is expected eventually to become a donor to the global vaccine initiative.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Monday, May 18, President Mahama said Ghana’s steady progress in strengthening its healthcare system has positioned the country to take greater responsibility for financing vaccines and immunisation programmes.
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“Ghana is also on track to exit GAVI funding for vaccines by 2030 and hopes to transition into a donor in the not-too-distant future,” the President stated.
President Mahama announced while delivering a keynote address on Ghana’s health sector reforms and broader efforts to improve access to quality healthcare.
He noted that Ghana has intensified its response to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares), popularly known as MahamaCares.
According to the President, the fund is designed to support patients suffering from high-cost chronic illnesses, such as: Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer
Liver disease and Kidney failure.
“This fund is a lifeline for those suffering from NCDs… that were previously a death sentence for the poor,” he said. “MahamaCares is ensuring that specialised, high-cost care is not a privilege for just a few, but a right for all.”