GHANA— The Governments of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, through their representative embassies in Ghana, have come together in a historic first to support Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) ambitions.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Ghana signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the Ambassadors of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea in Ghana to support Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage and Health Security.
Moreover, the MoC with Ghana will be implemented by the countries’ respective development agencies in the country i.e., the United States Agency on International Development (USAID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The three countries’ commitment will improve primary health care and strengthen global health security defenses in Ghana against current and future pandemic threats.
Additionally, the MoC will invigorate Ghana’s commitment to mobilizing resources to implement proven interventions that will ensure equitable access to quality maternal, newborn, and child health, family planning, nutrition, social protection, and infectious disease services for all Ghanaians.
Investing in Primary healthcare to improve health security
The agreement comes at a pivotal time when public health experts are focusing on building capacity for the next epidemic or pandemic, yet health indicators including global life expectancy and childhood vaccinations are slipping.
Investments in primary health care and global health security are critical to allow countries to rebuild their health systems and prepare for current and future health emergencies.
The United States, through USAID, plans to invest up to US$135 million through 2027, subject to appropriate approvals, in these efforts in Ghana.
KOICA will invest approximately US$23 million dollars, and JICA will invest its technical and financial resources as approvals are obtained.
The agreement signed will help align individual countries’ efforts, allowing each to focus on comparative strengths in support of Ghana’s public health institutions.
“The United States is committed to working with our global partners to invest in primary health care and global health security,” said U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer.
Amb. Palmer added that no country could afford to stand alone during a pandemic and COVID-19 showed us the power of strategic partnership with our allies to build a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous world.
“We are proud to join Japan and the Republic of Korea in this partnership to achieve Universal Coverage in Ghana,” Amb. Palmer reiterated.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mochizuki Hisanobu, said that the MOC was the first of its kind between all parties and would help to contribute further to the achievement of universal health coverage in Ghana with USAID and KOICA, by facilitating more efficient development aid.
“Together with our esteemed partners, we will be committed to ensuring we achieve this objective for the people of Ghana,” said Amb. Hisanobu.
The Republic of Korea Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Jung-taek Lim said that through the Memorandum of Cooperation, the Republic of Korea reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting Ghana in achieving Universal Health Coverage and strengthening health security.
“We will work hand in hand with our esteemed partners to improve primary health care services, ensuring that they are easily accessible and of the highest quality,” said Amb. Lim.
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