Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, former Communications Minister, says the country’s continuing unstable power supply presents a significant danger to the protection of COVID-19 vaccines intended for inoculation against the virus.
He also believes that the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation to African countries to retain obsolete vaccinations could cause concern for Ghana’s health sector and pandemic response.
Dr. Omane Bomah expressed skepticism about the progress in a social media message, requesting guarantees from the global international health organisation that average citizens’ lives are not at stake.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) had the best of thoughts for this initiative. Africa, do not misunderstand them. However, the normative greatly deviates from our living reality.”
“For instance, how are vaccinations faring in Ghana’s ‘Dumsor’? Ghanaians need to know this in order to be certain that the ‘expired vaccinations’ would be fit for function, even if only theoretically”, he wrote on Facebook.
Dr. Omane, who has previously criticized Ghana’s vaccination policy, added that the current condition demonstrates that the country’s COVID-19 vaccines “procurement programme was lying on shaky ground.”
Additionally, the former Minister said that Ghanaians should avoid fear and still maintain a relaxed demeanor, noting that the only way to protect themselves from the virus is to strictly stick to safety protocols.
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“The World Health Organization (WHO) has good intentions here. Africa, do not get them wrong.
But the normative (what should) deviates significantly from our lived reality. For example, how are the vaccines faring in ‘Dumsor’ in Ghana now?
Ghanaians need to know to be assured the “expired vaccines” will be fit for purpose even if for theoretical reasons.
Dear friend, do not panic.
This is why I said several months ago that, the best vaccine is to stick to the protocols: Handwashing with soap under running water, using face masks, applying alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and social distancing.
Any reasonable observer of the worldwide vaccine supply chain and the associated geopolitics knew Ghana’s late vaccine strategy including the procurement plan was resting on wobbling feet.”
I urge you to #staysafe because #covidisstillhere. #PureHealth
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE