COVID-19 calls for less expensive vaccine – Botchwey
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has reiterated calls for a concerted effort by the international community to combat the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for an inclusive vaccine, which is readily available for every country regardless of their economic endowment.
At a farewell call on her by the ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Ghana, Giovanni Favilli, on Thursday, 2nd June 2020, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey Whilst commiserating with the Government of Italy over the huge loss of lives in Italy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic expressed her happiness at how the Italian Government has managed to bring the pandemic under control, leading to the rapid easing of restrictions coupled with other preventive measures.
However, the minister is of the view that the ravages of the pandemic calls for Italy and other European countries to concede that COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge that requires concerted efforts by the international community to combat and the need to join forces with the inclusive vaccine alliance, an initiative that supports the European Commission's call for global leaders to cooperate and buy bulk quantities of potential COVID-19 vaccines for European countries and the rest of the world, in order to avoid harmful competition for vaccines by individual advanced countries, an action that could raise the prices of vaccines and create difficulties in developing countries also obtaining supply.
“It was scary to read the reports of how it [COIVD-19] ravaged your country and I’m happy also to note that today we can say that it is under control and you have done a great job in battling it. We ask that as part of the inclusive vaccine alliance, you will also be an advocate for Africa that these vaccines when they come on stream will not be too expensive to countries that are less endowed to be able to buy.”
She also expressed hopes that “we, [Ghana] are all like other countries such as yours waiting earnestly for a vaccine to come so that we will also, be able as developing countries to obtain supplies of it.
The outgoing Italian ambassador Giovanni Favilli, who is completing his tour of duty after presenting his credentials to former President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, 4th October 2016 assured that his country will closely collaborate with Ghana in the fight against the pandemic.
Source: classfmonline.com
Trending News
Free SHS: Adutwum commends policy for promoting inclusivity, student opportunities
08:35Bawumia visits Madina market Friday
15:23Ejisu: CPP seeks injunction to stop April 30 By-election
08:33Let’s use your billboards for 2024 campaign – NPP begs ex-aspirants
11:34Man allegedly shoots wife in Adaklu
15:01NDC to outdoor Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate today
08:29Engineering Council disgusted by Ashanti ECG MD's arrest on minister's orders
11:20‘I can only thank you for your dumsor patience’ – Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians
14:50Submit 2023 audited financial statements by May – Akufo-Addo orders SOEs
07:482024 World Earth Day: Reduce production of all forms of plastic to 60% by 2040 – CCLG-Africa to gov’t’s
10:29