B&FT: Sub-regional attempt to contain Covid-19 epidemic commendable

ECOWAS health ministers held a one-day meeting in the Malian capital, Bamako, last weekend to discuss strategies for preventing the novel coronavirus outbreak that is causing fear and panic around the globe.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting organized by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) charged member-countries to implement robust measures that assure availability of critical medical supplies, including laboratory materials and personal protective equipment in the region.

It also called for strengthened coordination, communication and collaboration among member-states in preparedness for a covid-19 epidemic, including cross-border collaboration. It is timely that WAHO called health ministers of the sub-region to discuss and strategise for what appears to be an impending viral outbreak that is confounding even more developed countries like China.

Procuring critical medical supplies like personal protective equipment and laboratory materials is imperative, considering the number of our nationals that are in China for various reasons.

Like Ebola, which took the sub-region by storm, the rapid spread of the virus is something that is confounding even the most advanced health systems in the world – with the World Health Organisation declaring the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, due to spread of the illness to other countries.

Even though health systems in our parts of the world are considerably weaker than in the more advanced economies, folding our arms in despair would be giving in to the preventable. At least, this was the case when Ebola ravaged parts of West Africa; so we have decided to strengthen coordination, communication and collaboration to ward-off the danger to our citizens, and that is being proactive.

The WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus; for example, by following good hands and respiratory hygiene.

Over 300 Ghanaian students are currently trapped in the Chinese province where the virus is said to have emanated from, with some persons urging government to evacuate them.

However, government through the Minister of Health – who has been in constant consultation and engagement with the World Health Organisation (WHO), regional bodies and the Chinese authorities, say they all do not encourage the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from China at this time.

Let’s trust officialdom for now, we believe they have the best interests of the country at heart in this matter