Kumasi takes measures to deal with health emergencies

A public health emergency management committee to promptly deal with all health emergencies in the Kumasi metropolis has been inaugurated.

Dr. Alberta Biritwum Nyarko, the Metropolitan Health Director, is its Chairperson, and the committee comes on the heels of the recent reported outbreak of cholera in parts of the country.

Two cases of the severe diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and death had been confirmed in the Greater Accra Region.

Dr. Nyarko said the Metropolitan Health Directorate was on high alert to appropriately respond to any emergency situation.

Rapid response teams had been set up in all the district hospitals for this purpose, she added.

She indicated that the directorate had maintained surveillance on acute watery diarrhea cases and that no case of cholera had been proved, so far.

The committee was ready to tackle other disease outbreaks including the Zika virus and influenza, and she spoke of improved disease surveillance and laboratory diagnoses, case management and patient care.

Dr. Nyarko called for adequate resources and logistics – vehicles and motorbikes for the health service, to enable it to carry out intense public health education to rein in communicable diseases.

Mr. Kojo Bonsu, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), in a speech read for him, said improving the health of the people was a major priority of the assembly.

It would therefore give the necessary support to all public health programmes.

He reminded the Committee to work with total commitment and passion to achieve set goals.