The government of the United States of America has handed over personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to be distributed to the Ghana Health Service to assist frontline health workers to fight the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The US ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan, presented the supplies to the armed forces on Thursday, 28 August 2020.
GAF are expected to transport the PPE to frontline health workers in Sekondi in the Western Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
GAF will be accompanied by representatives of the US Embassy to deliver the PPE to the Kumasi South Hospital and Effia Nkwanta Regional hospital on Monday, 31 August 2020.
Funding for the purchase of the supplies was by the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM).
The supplies, valued at GHS 430,000, include 10,000 N95 face masks, 1,600 hospital gowns, 2,000 litres of methylated spirit, 3,000 liters of sodium hypochlorite, 20 glucometres, 200 glucometre strips, and 14 pulse oximetres.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the PPE to GAF for distribution, the U.S. Ambassador said: “The United States is leading the world in providing critical international assistance as, together, we battle this global pandemic”.
“And GAF continues to play a leading role, along with the Ministry of Health, in responding to the pandemic here in Ghana. The U.S. Embassy and AFRICOM are proud to partner with GAF in this and many other endeavors.”
Receiving the items, Chief of the Defence Staff Lt Gen Obed Boamah Akwa noted that the US has since time immemorial proven to be friends with Ghana.
“This generous gesture by the US Embassy and AFRICOM is very timely in the midst of the pandemic in which we find ourselves.
“It is in times of crises that you know who your true friends are; and the United States has proven to be a worthy friend of Ghana’s, and, in particular, the Ghana Armed Forces during this crisis of COVID-19 pandemic.
“For us in the GAF, the least we can do is to facilitate the delivery of these critically-needed medical supplies to the places where they are most needed.”
