President directs release of funds to fight Ebola

Accra, Aug 14, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate release of additional Six Million Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 6million) to augment the fight against the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD).

Also, the President instructed that 10,000 additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) be procured to ensure the safety of frontline workers who may come into contact with the disease should an incident be recorded in Ghana.

President Mahama also called for immediate steps to be taken to secure an insurance policy for health workers who may be infected with the virus whiles providing service(s) to affected patients.

The President gave the directives after a meeting with his team of Ministers coordinating Ghana's response to the Ebola Viral Disease on 13th August, 2014.

A statement signed by Dr Edward K. Omane Boamah, Minister for Communications said the meeting reviewed and evaluated not only interventions instituted so far, but also successes and challenges associated with the fight against the deadly Ebola Viral Disease in Ghana.

Ghana has tested all the forty-five (45) suspected cases of Ebola Viral Disease with the results proving negative.

In addition, the President reaffirmed the decision to reschedule the reopening dates of tertiary institutions and further tasked the Inter-ministerial team to institute urgent measures to screen all foreign students from the affected countries.

Also, the President advised that consistent with the decision of the ECOWAS Commission that all meetings and missions be suspended unless absolutely essential and well-guided, a three (3) month moratorium be placed on all international conferences and international gatherings which have the potential of spreading the Ebola Virus.

The meeting resolved to deepen consultations with religious leaders, traditional authorities and all Stakeholders with the view to soliciting their full support for the ongoing awareness creation efforts.

President further directed the immediate deployment of the Field Engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces to speed up the completion of the three designated Ebola Treatment centres in Tema, Kumasi and Tamale.

GNA