The Authorities of Ghana has activated a surveillance and isolation system at main border crossings to detect and stop the unfold of Ebola within the nation.
This was made clear when the Deputy Minister of Well being, Dr. Grace Ayens-Danquah, toured the busy Elbo and Aflao posts to evaluate Ghana’s response technique to the lethal illness that broke out within the Democratic Republic of the Congo in mid-Could.
Clinician and Surgeon Dr Ayens Danquah additional pledged that the federal government would act swiftly to deal with the recognized gaps and strengthen response mechanisms, including that President John Dramani Mahama had directed the Ministry of Well being to make sure the nation was in a position to reply to any potential outbreak.
“As a authorities, it’s our responsibility to make sure the security of our nation and our folks, and we’re doing that by assessing our response mechanisms to this lethal illness,” she stated.
outbreak in congo
The Deputy Minister’s go to was a part of the federal government’s broader efforts to strengthen illness surveillance and response capability as regional dangers improve following the unfold of Ebola within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and different Central African nations.
In Could, the World Well being Group declared the outbreak a public well being emergency of worldwide concern, underscoring the urgency of Ghana’s preparedness measures to guard its inhabitants and stop cross-border transmission.
Screening and institution of isolation facilities
On the Aflao and Elbo checkpoints, the Deputy Minister liaised with border management companies, port well being authorities and native authorities.
Dr. Ayens Danquah additionally directed well being and native authorities to think about screening procedures, isolation services, and coordination mechanisms to detect and comprise suspected instances.
The Deputy Minister advised the briefing that testing, surveillance and isolation protocols are already in place and Ghana is able to cope with potential instances.
Nevertheless, well being and native authorities advised the Deputy Minister that important gaps exist, together with inadequate private protecting tools (PPE), restricted staffing and ageing infrastructure established throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Ayens-Danquah stated that to strengthen Ghana’s frontline defence, the federal government is working shortly to deal with these shortcomings with plans to deploy trendy, well-equipped border well being services and improve funding in personnel, logistics and important provides.
“Authorities stays dedicated to making sure sturdy surveillance, testing and response mechanisms to guard the well being and security of Ghanaians,” she stated throughout a tour of testing factors, isolation facilities and municipal well being services.
President Mahama’s well being initiatives
The go to highlights President Mahama’s administration’s broader push to prioritize well being safety, notably in border areas the place cross-border commerce and motion of individuals will increase the chance of illness importation.
President Mahama has made strengthening the well being system with new investments in major well being care, illness surveillance and front-line infrastructure a spotlight of his administration.
The federal government is rolling out flagship interventions such because the Mahama Cares program and free major well being care coverage, alongside continued hospital refurbishment and well being employee retraining to strengthen service supply and response capability.
Past assessing infrastructure, Dr Ayens Danquah’s tour additionally aimed to strengthen collaboration between key companies such because the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Income Authority, and the Regional Well being Division, in addition to determine useful resource and coaching wants to enhance emergency response capability.
