The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is allocating $2 million (equivalent to 24.8 million Ghana Cedis) for the construction of a new national vaccine cold room and a national cold chain vaccine management resource center at Korle Bu.
Ms. Lang stated, “The national vaccine cold room will preserve Ghana’s routine vaccines at optimal temperatures and provide surge capacity in case of future pandemics.” She expressed gratitude to UNICEF for their technical support, and recognized the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for their leadership in the health sector. Upon completion, the state-of-the-art building will consist of two floors, featuring the cold room on the ground floor and offices/storage space on the first floor. The ground floor will accommodate six walk-in cold freezer rooms, with construction expected to conclude by June 2024.
Amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the existing national vaccine cold room had reached full capacity. USAID’s assistance allowed Ghana to triple its vaccine distribution capacity, achieved through the rental of two specialized cold vans.
The new national vaccine cold room not only builds upon this support but also signifies USAID’s ongoing dedication to Ghana’s health sector.
The United States Government remains Ghana’s primary bilateral partner, providing over $140 million in support over the last year for health, economic growth, agriculture, education, and governance.