United States Provides Approximately $200,000 Worth of Cold Chain Equipment to Ensure Safe and Effective Medicines for Ghanaians

Accra, Ghana –  The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided approximately $200,000 worth of cold chain equipment to ensure safe and effective medicines for Ghanaians. The equipment was handed over to the Ghana Health Service and will improve the storage of medicines and health commodities in national and regional medical stores by maintaining vaccines and health products at the right temperature for optimal quality.

“Good health is the key to a productive life. If prescribed medications are not stored properly, they may not work as expected, worsening health conditions and causing adverse drug reactions,” said USAID/Ghana Mission Director, Kimberly Rosen, during the handing over ceremony at Korle Bu in Accra. “Maintaining the quality and efficacy of medicines is critical in Ghana’s hot and humid climate,” Rosen added.

The items donated include 25 refrigerators for health facilities, five large capacity refrigerators for regional medical stores, and five new regional smart temperature monitoring systems. The monitoring systems will track temperature and humidity every five minutes and send real-time alerts when readings fall outside the recommended levels. Since 2019, USAID has equipped ten regional medical stores with smart temperature monitoring systems.

The United States is Ghana’s largest bilateral development partner. In 2023, USAID provided over $150 million for health, economic growth and agriculture, education, and more.

USAID has also provided $2 million dollars to construct a national vaccine cold room, renovate the old vaccine cold room, and train health workers in cold chain management. The new cold room, due for completion in late November 2024, will be used to store all routine vaccinations for the country. It will have two floors, with the cold room on the ground floor and offices and storage space on the first floor. The building is accessible to persons with disabilities, with a ramp and an elevator.

About USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID’s activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana’s journey to self-reliance. USAID’s work advances an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.