Ebola campaign launched in Afram Plains

World Vision Ghana (WVG), a non-governmental organization (ngo), in collaboration with the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, had launched the district level campaign on the Ebola virus (evd) in the Kwahu Afram Plains North and South Districts.

The campaign, which will be followed by several activities, is meant to prevent, manage and contain the Ebola virus in Ghana, especially at the entry points.

As an initial support towards the campaign, the WVG committed GHC 661, 250 last year to the government, and partnered government in activities to prevent Ebola-related morbidity and mortality in the country.

With the support, Ghana Health Service (GHS) has organized training for laboratory staff on evd infection control, sample collection, packaging and transportation and provided personal protective equipment to the staff on the campaign.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Mr Raymond Kofi Owusu, the Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Specialist for WVG, said the NGO was committed to efforts by government and partners at preventing the Ebola virus infection and spread.

He said at the strike of evd, children, especially the most vulnerable, stood to face the greatest risk, be it through the infection or the loss of a parent or breadwinner.

According to Mr Owusu, to ensure that children enjoyed good health and protection to participate in community life, WVG had committed over 19 million dollars worth of medical supplies and equipment to the government.

Mr Mukaila Diwura, the Eastern Regional Disease Control Officer, said the Regional Health Directorate would ride on the back of Ebola to tackle all other hemorrhagic fevers in the region, especially in the Afram Plains.

He said, as part of the campaign, District Epidemic Response Teams, comprising all major stakeholders for the two districts in the Plains, had been formed and trained to track, monitor and educate communities in the two areas.

Mr Ibrahim Issaka, District Chief Executive for Afram Plains South, thanked the WVG for all their interventions to develop his district.

He said, the rapid population growth in the Afram Plains, especially with the influx of foreigners, made it very appropriate for the Ebola virus campaign .

Mr Wilham Emile Afram, DCE for Afram Plains North, pledged the district assembly's support to make the campaign a success.

Mr Agyekum Dampare, the Acting Afram Plains Development Programme (ADP) Manager for the WVG, called on all faith based organisations, to offer their support for the intervention, to combat fear and threat.

He appealed to them to allow their pulpits to be used to reach out to their numerous worshipers with the education of the evd to get them to prevent the disease.