Health Minister warns of existence of Ebola

Health Minister, Mr Alex Segbefia has warned Ghanaians of the existence of Ebola and the need for them to remain alert in order not to be overtaken by the deceptive robust disease.

“Since the disease has proven to be stubborn, resurfacing in countries where it has been declared vanquished, the Ministry of Health is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Ghana remains Ebola free,” he said.

Taking his turn at the “Meet the Press” Series, the Health Minister noted that the deadly disease has recorded a total of 27, 741 cases has been reported in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, US, Spain and Italy with 11,284 deaths.

He said as part of measures to deal with the viral disease, treatment centres have been mounted at strategic locations to handle cases if they occur.

“These centres can be used to handle other infectious diseases of a similar nature,” he said.

Mr Segbefia expressed concern about the industrial unrests that have unravelled the health sector from the Ghana Medical Association, Government and Hospital Pharmacists Associations, and Psychiatric Nurses, the fire outbreak at the National Central Medical Stores and said measures are being taking to address and prevent its occurrence.

He said the Ministry has created 1,600 Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds to add up to the 2,948 functional zones demarcated.

The Ministry has also ordered 200 ambulances at the cost of $ 15, 800,000.00 to be supplied to all the CHPS compounds to help in the evacuation of the very sick people to the next level of medical care.

He noted that the Ministry has pushed for the integration of healthy lifestyle issues into the curricula of basic, secondary and tertiary institutions and commended the media for the continuous role in ensuring healthy lifestyle of Ghanaians.

Mr Segbefia said he would be focusing on the implementation of the CHPS policy, develop the emergency medical service system and address issues with the supply chain management system, which he has identified as priority areas before the end of 2016.

He explained that if the CHPS concept if well addressed with adequate resources, would address the ill-health in society, whilst the ambulance service would also be visible everywhere and movement of medicines would be monitored to curtail their pilferages and diversions.

He called on all to join in creating a healthier health system that would ensure a healthy population.