COVID-19: Local businesses to begin manufacturing gloves and other essentials – Akufo-Addo
- President Akufo-Addo has revealed that all is set for the local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in Ghana
- He indicated that 3,600,000 face masks will be produced in Ghana with 150,000 being manufactured a day
- President Akufo-Addo also applauded the work of health workers in Ghana and argued they are right to raise concerns about their safety
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President Akufo-Addo has revealed that local manufacturing firms would soon begin the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
According to him, the project would kick off on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, and the government is ready to provide support to make this a reality.
He went on to say that “three million, six hundred thousand face masks will be produced domestically, with an output of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) per day.”
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Per a report by myjoyonline.com, other items to be produced by the local businesses are face masks, head covers, surgical scrubs and gowns.
The president went on to appreciate the crucial role health workers play in Ghana and admitted they have good reasons to complain about inadequate PPEs to work with.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in March 2020, raised an alarm about the severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of PPEs.
The WHO revealed that the shortage is being caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse is putting lives at risk from the coronavirus pandemic.
To date, it has shipped nearly half a million sets of personal protective equipment to 47 countries and this has led to a depletion in quantity available to distribute.
It estimates that there is a need for an estimated 89 million medical masks each month to battle COVID-19.
An estimated 76 million examination gloves are needed worldwide and monthly demand for goggles stands at 1.6 million.
The WHO has therefore concluded that manufacturing businesses around the world need to increase the production of the PPEs by 40% to meet demand.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has revealed that small and medium scale businesses in Ghana would benefit from a GHC600 million soft loan package.
According to him, the move is to protect such businesses from the economic impact of the coronavirus.
As part of a nationwide address on Sunday, April 5, 2020, he explained that the plan is to ensure that Ghanaian businesses are still functioning even though industries are affected by the pandemic.
He explained that the soft loan scheme would be implemented with the support of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), business & trade associations and selected commercial and rural banks.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
