Leveraging COVID-era funding wins for epidemic preparedness in Ghana

Resolve to Save Lives has published a new report on SEND GHANA’s advocacy for stronger domestic financing for epidemic preparedness and response.

The report, “Leveraging COVID-era Funding Wins for Epidemic Preparedness in Ghana,” documents SEND GHANA’s work with government institutions, civil society organisations, the media and community leaders to strengthen Ghana’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

Building Support for Sustainable Financing

Ghana continues to face outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, meningitis, yellow fever and polio. Yet funding for epidemic preparedness has often received limited attention in national and local budgets.

In 2020, SEND GHANA began working with Resolve to Save Lives and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator to advocate for increased government commitment and domestic funding for Ghana’s National Action Plan for Health Security.

The initiative brought together civil society organisations, journalists, traditional and religious leaders, researchers, young advocates and policymakers. Through policy engagement, budget forums, media advocacy and public education, the partners worked to make epidemic preparedness a stronger national and local development priority.

Key Results

The report highlights several outcomes from the advocacy campaign, including:

• Greater attention to epidemic preparedness in national development planning.
• Continued engagement with the Ministries of Finance and Health on funding for health security.
• Discussions on establishing a Public Health Emergency Fund.
• The inclusion of epidemic preparedness activities in the budgets of selected metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.Stronger knowledge and participation among civil society organisations, journalists and community leaders.

Although Ghana has not yet established a Public Health Emergency Fund, the campaign has helped build a broad network of organisations and advocates committed to securing reliable financing for public health emergency preparedness.

SEND GHANA will continue to engage government, Parliament, civil society, the media and local authorities to support the creation of sustainable funding mechanisms for epidemic preparedness. Read the full article here

Read the Ghana Report

Other Reports in the Series

The Ghana report is part of a wider collection documenting civil society advocacy for epidemic preparedness financing across several African countries. Read here