Government says it will from Wednesday, April 8, 2020, start taking delivery of locally produced nose masks to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
According to government, five local firms have been engaged by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to produce a total of 3.5 million masks which will be distributed across the country, particularly for health workers.
Addressing a press briefing on COVID-19, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, said government is hoping to take stock of all the masks within the next seven days.
“The President is making all efforts to resource the Ministry to ensure that we have adequate numbers of protective equipment. In his speech, he talked about taking the opportunity of the crisis to build local capacities to do some of these things at home. As I speak, the Minister of Trade has selected five big companies to sew 3.5 million nose masks. They will start delivery from Wednesday. We will take delivery of 150,000 each day and within the next seven days or so, the whole country will be flooded with these masks, especially for health workers.”
Gov’t to begin local production of PPE kits
On Sunday 5th April, 2020, President Akufo-Addo, whiles addressing the nation on addiotional measures to be taken in combatting the novel Coronavirus in the country announced that government will commence the local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to intensify measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.
President Akufo-Addo said it has become imperative to prevent any shortages in already procured PPEs which are vital in protecting the lives of frontline health workers, who are endangering their lives every day to battle the virus.
He further noted that government has placed a high priority on the procurement of PPEs adding that the Ministry of Health was supervising the distribution of 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 to be dispatched to the various health facilities.
“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].
COVID-19 cases recorded
Currently, Ghana has recorded a total number of 287 COVID-19 with 5 deaths and 3 recoveries.
The rise in the number of cases follows measures of enhanced contact tracing and testing, the Ghana Health Service said.
So far, Greater Accra Region has most cases (256) followed by the Ashanti Region (18), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1).
