The West Akim Municipal health directorate says it has put in place what it calls an effective plan to deal with any outbreak of Ebola in the area.
Concerns have been raised over the country’s preparedness to contain an outbreak of the deadly disease which has so far resulted in over 600 deaths across Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
However the the Deputy Municipal Disease Control Officer, Patrick Fianu has told Citi News that measures has been put in place to ensure that an outbreak of the disease in the area would be adequately dealt with.
According to Mr. Fianu, special wards have been set up in the various hospitals for suspected Ebola patients where they can be cared for away from other patients.
He said the ward would serve as place to “confine” people who had been infected with the Ebola virus while they were being treated to prevent them from infecting other “healthy people.”
He added that they have also embarked on a massive education drive, “distributing flyers to patients at the hospitals”, while “collaborating with the local radio stations” to sensitize people” on the disease.
The Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that efforts are underway to establish Ebola treatment centers in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
Speaking at a press conference on the country’s readiness to combat an outbreak of Ebola, the sector minister, Dr. Agyeman-Mensah insisted that the government will do all its can to protect Ghanaians.
“We will not renege on our efforts to protect the people of Ghana especially our health workers who are at the fore front of this battle against Ebola Virus Disease,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) is asking all churches not to consider the Ebola outbreak as demonic.
General Secretary of the Council, Rev Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong said it is important for people to treat it as a disease and leave the medical officers to do their work.
“People should not spiritualize it as demonic and satanic” insisting that “it is a disease that scientifically has been proven and so we want our people to know that in as much as we want to pray as people of faith, we also must also listen to the technical people and the directions that they give to us.”
Rev. Frimpong stated that health experts will be invited to educate and sensitize church members on the Ebola disease.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana