Health Ministry Moves to Forestall Sars Outbreak

THE MINISTRY of Health has set up an inter-agency committee on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to coordinate efforts to control any outbreak of the disease in the country.

The ministry, which is in constant touch with the World Health Organization, is monitoring the situation around the world and the necessary measures are being put in place for any eventuality.

The Health ministry has therefore asked Ghanaians not to panic but rather give the committee its fullest cooperation to facilitate its work. According to the chairman of the committee Mr. Osei Agyie, the ministry has drawn a contingency plan and responsibilities assigned to the various agencies.

He said the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service shall be responsible for the provision of technical information and education of the public and other agencies on the disease.

The committee is chaired by the chief director of the ministry and has the deputy director general of the Ghana Health Service, director of Public Health, head of surveillance, representatives of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of the Interior, Port Health of the Local Government and Rural Development and the Greater Accra Regional health directorate as members.

The final referral hospitals for the management of the disease are Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, while other health facilities shall be involved in the management of any initial suspected case of SARS.

Ghana Immigration Service and port health are responsible for the initial screening and education of travelers while the aviation and port health facilities shall be used for initial isolation of suspected cases of SARS.