Togo, Ghana Health Authorities deepen collaboration

Health authorities of Ghana and Togo have deepened collaboration along the frontier, especially at Aflao, in the wake of the deadly Ebola disease sweeping across the sub-region.

The two sides meet at the level of the Joint Border Security Cooperation Committee of frontier agencies, at which meetings the sides share technical notes, strategies and efforts to offset an Ebola outbreak.

Mr. Raphael Marfo, Volta Regional Head of Port Health and member of the National Technical Committee on Ebola, was speaking to the GNA on Wednesday at Aflao on the state of preparedness to ward off or contain the menace.

He said Port Health staff along the Eastern Corridor had been trained in Ebola case detection and would screen all persons who travel through Aflao, Akanu and Segbe and other crossing points.

Mr. Marfo said all stakeholder frontier agencies had been sensitized on the epidemiology of the disease relating to its signs and symptoms, how it is contracted and prevention measures.

“Personnel have been educated to wash hands regularly under running water, use hand sanitizers after touching goods and documents and adhere to basic personal hygiene,” he said.

He said staffs of health facilities including private ones had also been sensitized.

Mr Marfo said the directorate had taken delivery of Non-Contact Thermometers, also called Fever Detecting Equipment to detect fevers associated with Ebola and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) had also been received though inadequate.

Also received and distributed were hand gloves.

Mr. Marfo said the Ketu South Municipal Hospital at Aflao and the Regional Hospital at Ho were the designated referral points for travelers on whom fever was detected.

He said the Regional Health Directorate was due to designate extra health facilities as Ebola referral points to take care of border crossings at Nyive, Leklebi, and Tindzanse and others.

“Our major challenge is the numerous unapproved routes along the corridor, with 23 of them in Aflao area alone, making travelers come or go without being screened”, Mr Marfo said.

Mr. Marfo said sensitization of the public through various mediums, including radio was also going on, and asked people to report any health risk in their areas to the hospitals for quick attention.