The Canadian Government has supported Ghana with US$ 8 million financial package to support lifesaving services for girls and women in Ghana, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The support is to improve quality health, nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene services in some selected hospitals in the Ashanti Region with a focus on gender equality.
The Ashanti Region which currently has the second highest number of reported COVID-19 cases is benefiting from the programme under a strategic partnership between the Government of Ghana and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking during the ceremony today at the Ejisu municipality of the Ashanti Region, H.E. Kati Csaba, Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana said women and girls were disproportionally being affected by the pandemic.
She said Canada was proud to support UNICEF with ten million Canadian dollars and the government of Ghana in addressing gender inequalities in their work to prevent and respond to Covid-19 , adding that it would help achieve the ambitious targets set out through the Sustainable development goals (ADGs).
She said COVID-19 had placed enormous strain on essential services which had been further challenged by the lack of basic water and functional sanitation services in many healthcare facilities in Ghana.M
s. Anne-Claire Dufay on behalf of the UNICEF in Ghana, said strengthening preparedness, primary healthcare, and integrated services across sectors could save lives and help boost progress towards universal healthcare as well as gender equality.
She said UNICEF was delighted to partner with the government of Ghana and Canada to have a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable children and womenD
r Emmanuel Tinkorang, the Regional Director of health services, commended the Canadian Government and UNICEF for the support because it would enhance the Region’s preparedness in infection prevention, build the capacity of health workers, and provide the needed critical COVID-19 diagnosis, management, and provision of essential health services to women and children.
He expressed the directorates appreciation for the intervention and pledged his commitment to ensuring a successful implementation of the project.
