Takoradi Port takes measures against Ebola

The Takoradi Port Clinic has held a stakeholders meeting with the various shipping agents at the port to sensitise them on the deadly Ebola disease to avert any spread.

The meeting aimed at soliciting the support and co-operation of the various shipping lines transacting business with the port to allow their crew members that berth at the port from Ebola endemic countries to be screened by the port health personnel.

Mr Edward Sakah, Regional Port Health Co-ordniator, told the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday that even though Ghana had not recorded any Ebola disease there was the need to take proactive measures to prevent the disease from infesting the country.

He said so far 150 crew members had been screened for Ebola but none of them showed any signs of the disease and added that they had been to the Sekondi Fishing Harbour to educate the fisher folk on the disease.

The Port Health Co-ordinator indicated that the crew filled health declaration forms which took note of the crew members’ nationality, name and passport number, vessel as well as the country of departure.

He entreated any crew member that exhibits some initial symptoms of the disease such as vomiting blood, diarrhoea and intensive fever to immediately report to the nearest health centre for treatment instead of resorting to personal medication.

Some shipping lines present at the meeting included Panalpina, Maerk, Baj Freight, Inchcape, Conship, Supermaritime Ghana Limited, Oma Ghana, as well as some officials from the Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Police Service.