The World Health Organization (WHO) has charged countries in the sub-region to stop banning flights and closing borders to Ebola-hit countries since it is affecting delivery of medical supplies and personnel.<\/p>\n
The WHO had earlier warned against flight suspensions, the imposition of travel restrictions and the closure of borders.<\/p>\n
But some African nations and airline operators are flouting this warning.<\/p>\n
Senegal has closed its border with Guinea, South Africa has also issued a directive that non-citizens arriving from Ebola-affected areas of West Africa will not be allowed into the country.<\/p>\n
Ivory Coast has banned all passenger flights from three countries hit by Ebola in an attempt to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.<\/p>\n
However, addressing the conference on Ebola in Accra, the WHO\u2019s Regional Director for Africa, Louis Sambo stressed that \u201cthere should be no general ban on international travel or travel restrictions to the affected countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that some African leaders are taking decisions which are inconsistent with the recommendations of the international health regulations.<\/p>\n
The travel restrictions according to Sambo are creating \u201cisolation and stigmatization\u201d which is making it difficult for the WHO and other international partners to transport personnel and supplies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Mensah has called on his fellow Health Ministers within the sub-region to take concrete steps to prevent further spread of the disease.<\/p>\n
He said it is imperative for Health Ministers in West Africa to revisit some of the key decisions which were taken July to aid their fight against the Ebola disease.<\/p>\n
Dr. Agyemang Mensah called for the mobilization of religious bodies, political and community leaders to help improve awareness and strengthen surveillance.<\/p>\n
He also urged Health Ministers \u201cto deploy additional national human resources with the relevant expertise to key hot spots.\u201d<\/p>\n
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By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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