Efforts to ward off Ebola not encouraging-Dr Awoonor

        

Burkinabe Nationals being screened by Port Health Official

An Immigration Officer on high alert

A vehicle entering Ghana from neighbouring Burkina Faso was denied entry by Port Health Officials at the Paga Border Post on suspicion of passengers carrying the deadly Ebola virus. On board were 49 nationals from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where the disease has reached its epidemic threshold killing more than 700 people. Briefing Radio Ghana in Paga, the Assistant Port Health Officer, Benjamin Nalorutra, said health officials at the border post are on high alert to ward off any suspected case of Ebola disease. He disclosed that activities at the entry point have heightened as people entering the country from neighbouring Burkina Faso are thoroughly screened to ascertain their health status. Also, the office has been resourced with protective materials such as hand gloves and nose guards as first precautionary measure against the viral disease. But despite their level of preparedness, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams, says there was more room for improvement. He underscored the need for health workers to be on high alert and intensify their public campaign on the dangers of the deadly Ebola disease. He noted that authorities in the borders alone cannot curb the alarming situation since there are a lot of unapproved routes to the country that are not patrolled. Dr. Awoonor-Williams, emphasized that the region in not prepared since they lack resources and equipment to train health workers, adding that the region should create isolation wards with trained health workers and provide logistics for protection. He stressed that the most vulnerable group of Ebola outbreak is the health workers; therefore focus must be on them. He gave assurance that plans are far advanced to sensitize and orient the public by engaging the District Assemblies to disseminate the information on measures to prevent the deadly disease from entering the country. Dr. Awoonor-Williams, called on the people in the region to take the issue of sanitation seriously and practice personal hygiene to prevent them from contracting any viral disease.

GBC                                                       END                                              IA