Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has directed officials of Ghana Health Service at the Airports to enforce the Ebola protocol on Passengers Whilst on the flight Tunnel before disembarking.
This the Minister explained would enhance tracing of the ebola virus at the point of entry.
Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh addressing the media after the donation.at the Airport
Hon. Akandoh gave the directive when he paid a working visit to the Accra International Airport to ascertain how the Ebola protocol is being managed by Health officials.
“Ebola is of concerned. We all know that prevention is always better than cure.
We are here to know how passengers are screened and whether the protocols are being properly followed so that we can strengthen the system if the need be”, the Health Minister emphasized.
“…It is important for me to come and inspect the measures on the ground so that when we record a case we will be able to contain it”.
He later emphasized that Ghana has not recorded a case since the oubreak stressing however that “it doesn’t mean that we have to wait for a case before we act”.
The Juaboso Member of Parliament who was briefed by the Port Health Officials led by Director of Public Health Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe on measures taken to contain the virus at the Airport, later donated PPEs to the Port Health including Examination gloves, surgical gloves, chlorine, nose masks, goggles, hand disinfectants gels and temperature guns.
He reiterated the call for Ghanaians to take the Ebola Prevention campaign seriously stressing that all event organizers, churches and mosques should provide washing Stations and that the public are required to adhere to the hand washing protocol as a safety precaution.
The Director of Public Health assured the Minister of their preparedness to deal with the Virus adding that temperature of the passengers are taken before exiting the Airport.
Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh addressing the media at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR)
“As they descend two actions takes place, their temperature is taken and if you are suspected of a case, we lead you to the tarmac where the Ambulance takes you to quarantine room”, Dr. Bekoe revealed.
He also assured the Minister that his directive of checking the temperature of the Passengers in the flight Tunnel before disembarking will be adhered to.
The Minister addressing the media at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre
The Minister, later proceeded to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and Ghana Infectious Disease Centre where the respective Directors, Prof Dorothy Boamah and Dr. Oliver Commey assured the Minister of their preparedness to contain the virus should there be a case in the country.
The Minister was accompanied by the Country Director of WHO, Dr. Fiona Braka who advised Ghanaians to adhere to the Health Minister’s call for safety precaution stressing that this Ebola virus is dangerous and that the strain has no vaccine.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
