GHS Issues Ebola Alert

The Director General (DG) of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, has called for the reactivation of Ebola surveillance in all health facilities in the country.

In an internal memo to all directors, deputy directors and hospital managers, he asked all health professionals to be vigilant of any possible Ebola outbreak.

In the statement which was issued on May 15, 2017, Dr Nsiah Asare urged all to be on alert for any possible sign of the infection.

“The object of this communication is to inform and prompt all regions to be alert, and request you to institute/strengthen strengthen surveillance for early detection and response in your respective regions as part of your preparedness,” he said.

The director general of the GHS also called for an update of preparedness and response plans at districts and regions, sensitisation of staff to adhere to infection prevention and control measures at the facilities and ensure availability of holding places at regions and PPEs.

The statement further urged, despite assurances from the MOH DRC and WHO, there is the need to be alert in Ghana.

This letter comes on the backdrop of an outbreak of the disease in the African nation of Dr Congo, which has claimed about three lives with several others infected.

The most widespread outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history occurred in 2013-2016 in three West African countries – Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone – and led to the lost of over tens of thousands and rendered several displaced.

In June last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the end of the Ebola virus epidemic in Africa until the recent resurfacing in the DRC.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri