Health officials revealed that skilled deliveries in the district increased from 80.9 percent in 2024 to 94 percent in 2025.

The development was announced at Hwidiem during the Asutifi South District Health Directorate’s 2025 annual performance review meeting.

Speaking to Adom News, the District Health Director, Thomas Suuri, attributed the improvement to intensive public education campaigns and strengthened referral systems within the district’s health facilities.

He also noted that Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendance rose by 2.2 percent, indicating that more residents are seeking healthcare services at the facilities.

Meanwhile, the Health Committee Chairperson for the district, Nana Ama Asieduaa, commended health workers for their dedication to improving healthcare delivery.

She highlighted that interventions introduced by the directorate have contributed to a significant reduction in cases of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, and maternal mortality compared to previous years.

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In a statement signed by the Director-General, Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Service reaffirmed its dedication to delivering quality healthcare across the country but stressed that health workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

“While we will continue to strive to provide excellent care and service at all times, we equally expect that our staff will be treated with dignity and respect,” the statement noted.

Dr Akoriyea emphasised that the GHS stands firmly behind its committed and hardworking staff, warning that any actions that threaten their safety, well-being or ability to discharge their responsibilities will not be tolerated.

“Any form of aggression, intimidation, or violence against them is strongly condemned,” he stated.

The Service further underscored its commitment to ensuring safe working conditions within all its facilities nationwide. It revealed that it is working closely with relevant security agencies to reinforce protective measures and enhance safety protocols.

According to the GHS, safeguarding both healthcare professionals and patients remains a top priority.

“The safety of our team and those we serve remains our highest priority as a Service,” the statement concluded.

Authorities say the number of deaths linked to the disease remains at seven. The recent increase reflects a continued rise in reported infections in recent weeks.

Mpox is primarily transmitted through close contact with infected individuals. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes.

The GHS is urging the public to maintain strict personal hygiene and to seek medical attention immediately if any Mpox-related symptoms appear.

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No new deaths have been recorded, leaving the total Mpox-related fatalities at seven. Currently, one patient is admitted and receiving medical care.

The GHS explained that Mpox spreads primarily through close contact with infected individuals and has urged the public to take preventive measures to protect themselves and others.

Symptoms of Mpox include fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue.

Health authorities are advising anyone experiencing these symptoms to report immediately to the nearest health facility for early detection and treatment.

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In a statement signed by Acting Director-General Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Service warned that the harsh weather could trigger various health risks, including skin dryness, dehydration, respiratory problems, eye irritation, and a higher risk of meningitis, given that Ghana lies within Africa’s meningitis belt.

The GHS advised the public to moisturize regularly with oil-based products, drink plenty of water, consume water-rich foods, and wear face masks in dusty conditions. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions were specifically urged to avoid dusty areas and limit outdoor activities.

Additional preventive measures include wearing sunglasses or protective eyewear, frequent handwashing, and seeking prompt medical attention if unwell.

The Service emphasized the Ministry of Health and GHS’s commitment to safeguarding public health during the harmattan season and urged citizens to follow the recommended safety precautions.

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In a statement signed by Acting Director-General Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, GHS said the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 14, 2025, of nine confirmed cases and three deaths.

GHS emphasized that the situation is being closely monitored due to frequent travel between Ghana and Ethiopia, and that preventive measures have already been activated to protect the public.

The Ministry of Health and GHS are implementing several interventions, including increased surveillance at all points of entry, issuing alerts to regions and health facilities, activating public health emergency response structures, and engaging with One Health partners such as the Veterinary Services Directorate and Wildlife Division.

Marburg Virus Disease is a highly infectious illness caused by the Marburg virus. It spreads from animals to humans and can also be transmitted between people. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days. There is currently no vaccine, and treatment is primarily supportive.

The public is advised to report immediately to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as fever, bloody diarrhoea, bleeding from the gums, bleeding into the skin or eyes, or bloody urine.

GHS also urged strict adherence to preventive measures, including frequent handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, avoiding direct contact with symptomatic individuals, and steering clear of animals showing bleeding symptoms.

The Service reassured Ghanaians that all necessary steps are being taken to safeguard the population.

Read the statement below:

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The signing ceremony, held at the GHS Headquarters in Accra, marks a defining step in Ghana’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, and accountable healthcare for all.

Over the past three years, PharmAccess has collaborated with GHS to implement SafeCare in selected pilot facilities and regions. These pilot facilities have demonstrated significant improvements in management systems, patient safety, and clinical outcomes.

This new agreement transitions the initiative from pilot phase to nationwide implementation, ensuring that healthcare facilities at all levels, regional, district, and community, are systematically assessed, trained, and supported using a unified, data-driven framework.

SafeCare, an ISQuaEEA-accredited system, evaluates facilities on a five-level scale and supports them through continuous improvement cycles. The model has already delivered measurable results in Bono East and Savannah Regions, where pilot facilities reported stronger leadership engagement, improved clinical processes, and enhanced patient satisfaction.

“This MoU represents more than another partnership; it is a turning point in how Ghana defines progress in healthcare,” said Dr Maxwell Antwi, Country Director of PharmAccess Ghana.

“SafeCare is not a program; it is a system, a service-wide framework that brings structure, accountability, and measurable improvement to how care is delivered. It ensures that quality becomes the culture, not the exception.”

Dr Antwi emphasised that quality, not just access, remains Ghana’s next great frontier in healthcare. Citing global data, he noted that over five million deaths occur annually in low- and middle-income countries due to poor quality care, surpassing deaths caused by lack of access. He explained that SafeCare directly addresses this challenge by providing transparent, evidence-based metrics to drive decision-making and resource allocation.

“Access without quality is like giving someone contaminated food to eat when hungry,” Dr. Antwi said. “We must match the government’s expansion of access through NHIS and Free Primary Healthcare with equal commitment to quality, safety, and patient trust.”

The MoU builds on substantial capacity investments. In 2024, twenty GHS staff members became internationally certified SafeCare assessors through rigorous training facilitated by PharmAccess. GHS now boasts 20 internationally certified assessors and has conducted over 180 assessments across 140 facilities nationwide, and is supporting quality improvement in all these facilities, an achievement that underscores Ghana’s growing local ownership of healthcare quality systems.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of GHS, hailed the partnership as a practical roadmap for action rather than rhetoric.

“We cannot talk about Free Primary Healthcare or the ‘Mahama Cares’ initiative without guaranteeing quality,” he stated.

“Implementation begins immediately in the Greater Accra Region, where we will train regional ‘Trainers of Trainers’ to cascade SafeCare across all levels, from regional hospitals to CHPS compounds. For the first time, patients themselves will be empowered through a community scorecard system to give real-time feedback on the quality of care they receive.”

Dr. Akoriyea reaffirmed that GHS is committed to embedding SafeCare into its national performance reviews, accreditation systems, and NHIS credentialing processes, in collaboration with the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA). PharmAccess will continue providing technical assistance, digital tools, and assessor certification as GHS leads national implementation through its Institutional Care Division.

The MoU signals a new era in Ghana’s healthcare landscape, one where quality is measurable, transparent, and integral to system performance. Both organisations envision a future where every patient, regardless of location, can confidently access care that is safe, standardised, and trusted.

In attendance at the signing ceremony were Dr Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, Director of the Institutional Care Division, GHS; Dr Robert Amesiya, Acting Regional Director, Greater Accra; Hammond N. Sarkwah, Deputy Director of ICT, GHS; Mabel Kissiwaa Asafo, Acting Director of Health Promotion, GHS; and Ms Bonifacia Benefo Agyei, SafeCare Country Director, PharmAccess Ghana.

About SafeCare

SafeCare is an internationally accredited quality improvement system developed by PharmAccess Foundation in partnership with the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA). It provides a standardised, evidence-based framework for measuring, benchmarking, and improving healthcare quality in resource-constrained settings.

About PharmAccess Foundation

PharmAccess Foundation is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to improving access to better healthcare in Africa through innovative digital solutions, quality improvement systems, and inclusive financing models.

Source: AdomOnline

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According to the GHS, the cases have been identified as Influenza A strains H3N2 and H1N1, both common seasonal flu viruses.

The surge has been recorded mainly in the Greater Accra, Central, Bono, and Eastern Regions, coinciding with Ghana’s annual flu season, which peaks during the cooler months.

Symptoms include sudden fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, and fatigue.

The flu spreads primarily through respiratory droplets from infected individuals and contact with contaminated surfaces. Crowded environments such as schools, dormitories, markets, and transport hubs are considered high-risk settings.

The GHS has urged the public, particularly children, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with chronic illnesses, to take preventive measures seriously. T

hese include seeking early medical attention, staying home when unwell, practicing regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, avoiding crowded places, and wearing face masks when necessary.

Health authorities have intensified surveillance and rapid testing across facilities, updated case management protocols, and launched public education campaigns.

The GHS is also collaborating with the Ghana Education Service to ensure preventive measures are enforced in schools as they reopen.

The Ministry assured the public that adequate steps are being taken to manage the situation and called for continued cooperation from all stakeholders to protect families and communities.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Dr. Afriyie argued that the Akufo-Addo government had already secured financial clearance and paid about 7,000 nurses and midwives by January 2025.

However, he said GHS delayed in employing the remaining health workers despite having clearance since June.

“By January 1st of this year, the Akufo-Addo government had paid about 7,000 nurses and midwives. It was the Ghana Health Service that delayed the hiring process.

“The Minister should query the Ghana Health Service because they had the clearance to hire these professionals since June, yet they were only employed in December. They should be held accountable for this delay,” he said.

His comments come after Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh attributed the delay in salary payments to the lack of financial clearance for the recruitment of about 13,500 nurses and midwives by the previous government, creating payroll challenges within the sector.

But Dr. Afriyie cautioned against politicizing the issue, insisting that technical lapses within the GHS contributed to the current delay.

“Financial clearance for state agencies’ recruitment expires, and in such cases, an extension is required. We shouldn’t always blame politicians for wanting votes; if recruitment were done after the elections, what interest would they have in it?

“It’s easy to cast blame on politicians, but we should also hold the technical staff accountable. They have Human Resources and a Director General who must explain to Ghanaians why there was a delay in recruitment. There is no political advantage in this situation; this is about effective governance,” he added.

Source: Farida Seidu| Adomonline

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According to the latest update, no new deaths have been recorded, with the total death toll remaining at three. Currently, three patients are on admission receiving treatment.

The GHS reminded the public that Mpox spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person. Symptoms include fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue.

Health authorities are urging individuals who experience these symptoms to immediately visit the nearest health facility for examination and treatment.

The Service also advised Ghanaians to maintain good personal hygiene and adhere to preventive measures to reduce the spread of the infection.

Source: AdomOnline

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This brings the total number of recorded cases nationwide to 670, marking a steady increase in recent weeks.

According to the GHS, three deaths have been recorded so far, while one patient remains on admission receiving medical care.

Health officials have cautioned that Mpox spreads mainly through direct contact with infected persons, urging the public to be vigilant.

The GHS further advised Ghanaians to practice good personal hygiene and to promptly report to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or fatigue.

Source: AdomOnline

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In a statement released on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Directorate said an audit of health records at the Fetteh CHPS Compound found no such cases. It further confirmed that neighbouring health facilities also reported no diarrhoea cases during the period under review.

“The data currently available to the Directorate does not support any assertion of an outbreak or abnormal increase in diarrhoea conditions across the district,” the statement emphasized.

While acknowledging challenges with potable water supply in the area, the Directorate clarified that the situation has not escalated into a public health emergency. It assured the public that the district’s disease surveillance system remains fully functional, with monitoring teams actively working across all sub-districts.

The Directorate concluded by noting its continued collaboration with local authorities and partner agencies to maintain sanitation and hygiene standards, confirming that there is currently no epidemiological evidence of a waterborne disease outbreak in Gomoa East.

Source: AdomOnline

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One additional death has also been recorded, raising the cumulative death toll to two. Currently, two patients are on admission receiving treatment.

Health authorities have reminded the public that Mpox spreads mainly through close contact with infected persons.

Citizens are therefore urged to maintain good hygiene and promptly report to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as fever, rashes, headaches, muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes.

The GHS has reiterated its call for vigilance to help curb the spread of the disease.

Source: Adomonline

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The death toll remains at one, with no new fatalities recorded and no patients currently on admission.

In its previous update on August 7, 2025, the GHS urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms, and promptly report suspected cases to the nearest health facility.

The Service noted that it is working with regional directorates to trace contacts and strengthen the country’s coordinated response to the outbreak.

This marks the highest weekly increase in recent times and signals a worrying shift in the trajectory of the outbreak, which had previously reported no fatalities.

Health officials attribute the continued spread of the virus to close physical contact with infected individuals. Mpox—formerly known as Monkeypox—is a viral illness characterised by fever, body aches, and distinctive skin rashes. It spreads through direct contact with the rash, bodily fluids, or the skin of an infected person.

The GHS is urging the public to stay alert, maintain proper hygiene, and report symptoms such as fever, rash, or body aches promptly to the nearest health facility.

Authorities emphasised that early detection and isolation remain critical to curbing the spread of the virus.

Just four days earlier, a GHS update on July 18 reported 234 cases, with no deaths or hospitalisations. The sudden spike of 23 new cases and one death in such a short time reflects a rapid escalation in the situation.

Children, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions have been identified as particularly vulnerable to severe complications.

The GHS continues to advise the public to avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals and to seek immediate medical care if signs of Mpox appear.

Source: AdomOnline

In a press release dated June 26, 2025, the GHS noted that despite the World Health Organization’s decision to no longer classify COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the virus still poses a threat through seasonal outbreaks.

The GHS, in collaboration with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), is closely monitoring the situation and working with university authorities to contain the spread.

The health service has urged the public to remain vigilant and adhere to preventive measures, including wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, practicing good hand hygiene, and seeking medical care when experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, or difficulty breathing.

GHS reassured the public of its ongoing efforts to manage the situation and emphasized the importance of community cooperation in curbing the spread of the virus.

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No new deaths have been recorded, keeping the death toll at zero. Currently, four patients remain on admission.

The GHS attributes the recent rise in cases to enhanced surveillance efforts, including active contact tracing and increased public awareness.

These measures are aimed at identifying and isolating cases quickly within communities.

The GHS reaffirmed its commitment to early detection and containment, and urged the public to practice preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals, maintaining proper hygiene, and seeking medical care promptly if symptoms appear.

Dr. Dennis Odai Laryea, Deputy Director of Surveillance at the GHS and Consultant Public Health Physician, shared the update in an interview on Channel One TV on Friday, May 23.

“Currently, we have eight confirmed cases. Cumulatively for this year, that makes nine. One case was recorded earlier in the year and was quickly contained. The latest outbreak has produced eight confirmed cases—four each in the Greater Accra and Western Regions,” he revealed.

As part of its surveillance efforts, health authorities have investigated over 100 suspected cases of Mpox across the country. While all 16 regions have reported suspected cases, confirmed infections have so far been limited to the Greater Accra and Western Regions.

Dr. Laryea assured the public that the GHS’s surveillance system is designed to quickly identify and respond to suspected infections, thereby minimizing the risk of widespread transmission.

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Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Mark Kyeremeh Oppong, the Bono Regional Technical Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation at GHS, described the figure—revealed in the 2023 HIV and AIDS Sentinel Survey by the Ghana AIDS Commission—as alarming.

Mr. Oppong explained that Bono continues to rank among the regions with the highest HIV rates nationwide. He attributed the trend to the region’s high population mobility, driven by major institutions and industries such as universities, Newmont’s mining operations, and a thriving cashew trade, which attract people from all over the country.

“Bono’s high HIV prevalence is partly due to the movement of people in and out of the region because of its industrial activities and educational institutions,” Mr. Oppong said. He urged young people to make responsible choices, emphasizing the importance of abstaining from premarital sex and avoiding multiple sexual partners.

In contrast, Sunyani West Municipality has seen a comparatively lower HIV prevalence. Mr. Amankwah Degraft, the Municipal HIV and AIDS Coordinator, credited the decline to strengthened public sensitization efforts.

Despite the progress, Mr. Degraft raised concerns about the increasing lack of parental oversight, which he believes is contributing to risky behavior among young people. “Parents need to be more involved in guiding their children. We must continue our efforts through education and community engagement to further reduce infection rates in 2024,” he said.

As HIV rates remain a concern in the region, continued public health efforts and community involvement will be critical in addressing the issue.

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This alarming statistic underscores the persistent challenge of maternal mortality despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.

Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum in the Ashanti Region, Regional Health Director Dr. Frank Adomanko Boateng emphasized the urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.

He noted that the region is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

“Time is not on our side as we strive to achieve the target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts,” Dr. Boateng stated.

He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.

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According to the Acting Director-General of GHS, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, this proactive measure is aimed at protecting frontline workers and preventing the further spread of the disease.

The Central Region has recorded 14 cholera-related deaths, raising serious public health concerns.

Dr. Akoriyea also highlighted the significance of contact tracing, revealing that health authorities have already identified families closely linked to affected patients.

Speaking to Citi News after visiting cholera patients at the Winneba Municipal Hospital, he disclosed that a team will soon be deployed to schools and market centers to educate the public on cholera prevention and control measures.

“We need to boost the morale of health workers and ensure they continue providing care without fear. That’s why we have decided to start vaccinating health workers and the families of those already infected to prevent further transmission,” he stated.

He further stressed the urgency of vaccinations to limit the spread, adding, “Contact tracing can be challenging, so the key priority is vaccination to prevent an escalation.”

The GHS’s intervention is expected to enhance public health safety and reduce the impact of the cholera outbreak in the region.

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During his handing-over ceremony, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye expressed gratitude to his colleagues and called for their full support for Prof. Akoriyea.

He emphasized the importance of teamwork in sustaining progress within the health sector.

Prof. Akoriyea emphasized that his tenure would focus on resetting the system and ensuring that the government’s promises to Ghanaians in the health sector are fully implemented.

“I come here as an appointee of the President [John Mahama]. What we are going to do from now is enshrined in our manifesto and all that has to do with health, especially what the Ghana Health Service is tasked to do. That will be our mission, that is what we are here to do. Whatever the President decides, that is why I’m here – Resetting agenda,” he affirmed.

“In the manifesto, besides just the work, one of the things we have to look at is staff welfare. This is key. And most of you who knew how I used to talk about it, that passion is not gone. It has actually increased,” he added.

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The Western Region recorded two additional fatalities, prompting the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to initiate mortality audits.

The number of districts with confirmed cholera cases has also increased, rising from 44 to 46 as of December 24, 2024.

New cases have emerged in Agona East (Central Region) and La Nkwantanang Madina (Greater Accra Region).

To address the outbreak, the GHS has deployed multi-sectoral rapid response teams at the national, regional, and district levels.

These teams are working to contain the spread and provide essential support to affected communities.

While hospitalizations have decreased from 64 to 46 within the reporting period, the Western Region continues to have the highest number of hospitalized individuals at 37. The Greater Accra Region reports three hospitalizations, while the Central Region has six.

Contact tracing efforts have been robust, with 9,667 contacts identified. Among these, 8,667 have completed the mandatory five-day follow-up period.

Additionally, Phase 2 of the sub-national Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) campaign concluded between December 15 and 18, 2024, targeting hotspots in the Western Region. Districts such as Sekondi-Takoradi, Effia Kwesimintsim, Shama, and Ahanta West were covered, with a mop-up exercise conducted on December 19. The campaign successfully vaccinated 596,205 people, achieving 92.9% coverage of the target population.

GHS has also intensified testing of food vendors and water sources in affected districts to prevent further spread.

The campaign is being carried out within four identified hotspot areas in the region.

The campaign, which commenced on Sunday, December 15, and would end on Thursday, December 29, 2024, is aimed at offering immunity and protection against cholera infections for residents within Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Effia-Kwesimintsim, Shama and Ahanta West municipalities.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Western Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Nana Yaw Ofori Yeboah, said all persons from one year and above were eligible to take the vaccines, except pregnant women.

He stated that vaccines were safe with no health complications, and appealed to the targeted individuals to participate in the exercise to help stem the spread of cholera in the region.

He said as part of strategies to ensure they met their target, the vaccination team would visit homes, schools, churches, mosques, workplaces, markets and other vantage points including healthcare facilities.

The cholera outbreak has been on the rise in the Western region with recent updates showing that 1,633 cases have been recorded since the outbreak, with about 15 deaths.

Aside from the vaccination campaign, health authorities have instituted various measures to contain the spread of the disease, including a ban on the sale of vegetables by food vendors.

This was after the Environmental Surveillance investigations revealed that about 96 per cent of cholera infections were linked to food vendors, particularly through the sale of contaminated vegetables.

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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) disclosed the development, assuring the public that all necessary measures are being implemented to monitor and contain the situation.

According to Dr. Dennis Laryea, Deputy Director of Public Health in charge of Disease Surveillance at GHS, the latest case was confirmed last week.

“There was one case confirmed in the Greater Accra Region. The region has conducted investigations, and so far, no new cases have been identified, even among the contacts. However, we are continuing to monitor for any symptoms. I don’t have the exact number of contacts offhand, but the case was confirmed last week,” he stated.

Contacts of the confirmed case are under surveillance to prevent further transmission of the virus.

Ghana’s first case of MPOX was reported in August in the Western Region, where 25 contacts were identified. Shortly after, the patient’s mother tested positive, bringing the country’s total to two cases as of October 31.

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Director of Public Health at the GHS, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem stressed the importance of keeping sanitary conditions.

“It is important that we ensure that we keep a sanitary environment around us.” he said.

He further explained that the GHS has developed an action plan aimed at effectively treating current cases and preventing further spread, particularly at health facilities.

Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe advised the public to take specific precautions.

“Wash your sachet water very well before drinking it. It’s crucial to ensure cleanliness.”

He stressed the significance of hand washing with soap and water and recommended that people eat food that is hot to reduce the risk of infection.

“People should wash around the sachet water before tearing and drinking it,” he added.

In addition to these measures, he noted that contact tracing is being conducted to locate individuals who may be at risk.

“We are working hard to ensure that things are brought under control,” he assured.

Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe also mentioned that the GHS is collaborating with schools to implement safety measures.

“It’s a collective effort, and we are working hard to stop the spread.”

He therefore urged anyone experiencing symptoms, such as a running stomach, to seek medical attention promptly to prevent further illness.

For the Kasoa area, which has seen a significant increase in cholera cases, he stated, “The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) is working hard to ensure that measures are put in place to ease the situation.”

Recent reports from the health service indicate a sharp rise in recorded cholera cases in the Kasoa area. Initially, five cases were reported, but the number has climbed to 56.

GHS CHOLERA

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Currently, 12 people are receiving treatment, and nearly 200 suspected cases have been reported, all within the Ada East and West districts of the Greater Accra Region.

Health officials indicate that, some of the confirmed cases were brought in from neighbouring countries, which are also experiencing cholera outbreaks.

On October 11, the Ghana Health Service declared a cholera outbreak in the Ada East and West districts.

Since then, the District Security Coordinating Councils have implemented several key interventions to control the spread.

The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Franklyn Asiedu Bekoe in an interview with 3news explained that the country’s response focuses on three main strategies which are early case identification, contact tracing, and improving sanitation.

He highlighted that some cases were imported by Ghanaian traders crossing regional borders.

Efforts are being made to curb the spread and tackle sanitation issues in coastal communities in collaboration with various stakeholders.

“Significant progress is being made,” Dr. Bekoe stated. “Oral rehydration centers have been established in the affected areas to provide first aid. Although the number of cases is rising and the risk of spread is high, most cases are mild. Of the 43 confirmed cases, 37 are in Ada East and six in Ada West. We are monitoring close to 200 suspected cases, and 12 individuals remain hospitalized, with two deaths recorded,” he noted.

Source: Adomonline

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The latest case is the mother of a 15-year-old boy who was diagnosed in September. Health officials are now closely monitoring both patients to prevent further spread.

Deputy Director of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Dennis Laryea, assured the public that authorities are taking all necessary steps to contain the virus.

Mpox, also known as Monkeypox, is a viral infection transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces. Common symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

Health officials urge the public to remain vigilant, follow hygiene protocols, and promptly report any suspected symptoms to healthcare providers.

The Ghana Health Service has intensified public awareness efforts and is working with local health facilities to ensure preparedness for potential cases. Additional resources have been mobilized to track other contacts, especially in affected communities.

Source: Adomonline

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This comes a month after the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, and La Côte d’Ivoire, have recorded Mpox cases this year. While Ghana saw 120 cases in 2022 and eight in 2023, this is the first case of the year for the country.

In response, GHS has taken immediate action by issuing alerts to all regions and teaching hospitals. Surveillance for Mpox has been heightened nationwide, and healthcare staff have been sensitized on detection and management.

The mobilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers has also been initiated, and strict infection prevention and control measures, including barrier nursing, have been enforced.

Contact tracing and management have started, and the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) has been activated.

In addition to these measures, the GHS has outlined further steps, which include the activation of Public Health Emergency Management Committees at the national, regional, and district levels.

Continuous sensitization of health staff on Mpox prevention, case management, and precautionary measures will be undertaken.

Detailed outbreak investigations and expanded contact tracing efforts will follow, along with enhanced surveillance, including points of entry and screenings.

Public education campaigns will also be intensified to raise awareness.

The GHS assures the public that Ghana’s healthcare system is equipped to handle the outbreak. Citizens are encouraged to promptly report any suspected symptoms of Mpox to the nearest health facility for appropriate investigation and care.

This, according to the GHS, is to ensure the country minimizes its exposure.

Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed a total of 2030 cases and 13 deaths this year compared with 1145 cases and seven deaths in the whole of 2023.

Four countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – previously unaffected by Mpox have reported cases since mid-July 2024.

Although the disease is rare, it can be deadly.

Subsequently, the Africa CDC has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after record surge in cases this year, especially in Congo DR.

Touching on this, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe asked Ghanaians to be extra cautious about rashes on their skin.

“We are going to activate our surveillance system. We are actually going to make it in such a way that there is high awareness among Ghanaians so they do not assume every rash on their body is chicken-pox. So we are going to improve on our coordination,” he stressed.

Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe also said it was wrong for Ghana to be listed on the website of Africa CDC as one of 15 countries with confirmed Mpox cases in Africa, when the last case recorded was in 2023.

“In Ghana, our last case was in April 2023 and so far as we have had some in the past we are going to activate our system on such cases and manage them,” he added.

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The virus has been spreading to countries that were previously unaffected, prompting concern across the continent.

According to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 African countries are currently experiencing outbreaks, with 2,030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths reported so far this year.

Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about the virus.

“We should create the awareness so that when you have rashes on your body, you don’t assume that it is chickenpox; you have to go to the health facility for samples to be taken and we will confirm,” he stated.

Dr Bekoe noted that the Mpox cases currently recorded in Ghana are not severe and are manageable.

He also mentioned that the Ghana Health Service will work on improving coordination between the African region and the country level to better handle the outbreak.

Source: Myjoyonline

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The service urged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics and deliver in hospitals.

Dr. Kwame Amponsah-Achiano, Programme Manager for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), highlighted Ghana’s significant burden of hepatitis B and C infections.

Despite this, he noted that awareness of the disease remains low, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and preventive measures.

As of 2022, approximately 2.8 million people in Ghana are living with hepatitis B.

However, Dr. Amponsah-Achiano noted that the introduction of vaccines for children under one-year-old has helped reduce new infections.

He revealed that the Ministry of Health, GHS, and partners are working on introducing a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine to further reduce disease prevalence.

This initiative is crucial as hepatitis B prevalence is particularly high among pregnant women.

Dr. Amponsah-Achiano urged pregnant women to deliver in hospitals to ensure their children benefit from the new birth dose.

He described this as a significant step forward in combating hepatitis B, as the birth dose could greatly reduce new infections and save lives.

Dr. Amponsah-Achiano also stressed the importance of getting tested to know one’s status, as this is crucial in the fight against hepatitis B.

He highlighted that vaccination is an effective preventive measure and that those who test positive should seek medical treatment to manage the disease.

He believes that collective support for this initiative can make hepatitis B a thing of the past.

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Source: Abrefi Agyemang

The GHS attributes this trend to changing lifestyles, with more Ghanaians, including younger generations, incorporating fast food into their diets.

During the 47th Annual General & Scientific Meeting of the Ghana Chapter of the West African College of Physicians, Dr. Afua Commey, Deputy Programme Manager for the Non-Communicable Diseases Control Programme at GHS, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue.

She noted that, Ghana is experiencing an increase in all NCD risk factors, driven in part by the growing preference for fast food.

“In terms of NCD risk factors, we seem to be determined to gallop ahead of our neighboring countries. We are witnessing an escalation of all NCD factors… The risk factors are everywhere. As Ghanaians, we are increasingly embracing fast foods, possibly due to the lifestyle changes we’re adopting.

“As we adopt these lifestyles, we are also linking some form of reward system for our children, such as promising to take them to fast food places if they do well in school.

Unfortunately, these habits are reflected in our numbers, with the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension being about 50% of the estimated number,” she explained.

Vice President of the Ghana Chapter of the West African College of Physicians, Dr. Sammy Ohene also highlighted the importance of prioritizing mental health, noting that it is a leading concern among non-communicable diseases.

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This follows the successful completion of household registration in 41 districts, during which more than 2.282 million people were captured between Friday, June 7, and Tuesday, June 11.

Over the years, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has adopted the PMD as one of its key intervention strategies in the fight against malaria, which remains the leading cause of out-patient department (OPD) attendance across the country.

In the Ashanti Region, 924,847 cases were reported in health facilities in 2023, compared to 804,112 cases reported the previous year.

According to data from the Regional Health Directorate, uncomplicated malaria cases for the first quarter of 2024 stand at a whopping 413,189.

This translates to a 6.5 per cent increase over the 386,321 cases recorded within the same period in 2023.

The mass distribution of LLINs is therefore aimed at reducing diseases and deaths due to malaria, especially among children under five years and pregnant women, who are the most vulnerable.

Trained Distribution Point Attendants with GHS tags will be distributing the nets at distribution points designated for the exercise in communities across the 41 districts.

Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang, the Regional Director of Health Services, underlined the importance of sleeping under LLINs for full protection against mosquitoes in an interview with the Ghana News Agency ahead of the distribution.

He advised the public to air the LLINs in the shade for 24 hours or more before sleeping in them to avoid discomforts such as heat and body itching.

“The public must also avoid washing the LLINs in rivers and ponds to avoid pollution of water with chemicals and also treat them gently so they last long to serve their purpose,” Dr. Tinkorang implored.

According to him, the provision of LLINs to households would not only ensure the protection of a large portion of the population but also translate into a community-wide effect that could decrease the overall mosquito population.

He emphasised the economic impact of malaria and stressed the need for people captured during household registration to make time to collect their nets for the collective good of the country.

“We want to create this awareness about screening. We will go to the doorsteps of everybody. The institutions, churches, markets, lorry stations, schools to alert them and create awareness so they understand the dangers,” said Lydia Owusu Ansah, Regional Coordinator for NCDs.

According to Madam Lydia, a significant proportion of the population affected by these conditions are between 20 and 40 years old, with young people being particularly vulnerable, which is a cause for concern.

The region is grappling with a high burden of 20,000 cases of non-communicable diseases.

Madam Lydia emphasizes that the initiative will be an ongoing effort, not a one-time event, aiming to make early detection a daily priority.

She urged residents to prioritize regular health checkups and scheduled appointments with medical professionals to effectively manage and reduce the alarming rates of non-communicable diseases through early detection.

The regional coordinator spoke to JoyNews at the launch of an initiative by the Sekyere East District Health Directorate to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The district saw a significant decrease in hypertension cases, from 6,234 in 2021 to 4,046 in 2022 and further to 2,296 in 2023. Similarly, diabetes cases also showed a declining trend, from 1,820 in 2021 to 1,000 in 2022 and 559 in 2023, indicating a positive shift in the district’s health landscape.

Meanwhile, mental health concerns like depression showed a worrying increase, with cases rising from 12 in 2021 and 2022 to 22 in 2023. On the other hand, epilepsy cases demonstrated a downward trend, decreasing from 27 in 2021 to 22 in 2022 and 20 in 2023. Similarly, alcohol usage also showed a significant decline, with cases dropping from 25 in 2021 to 17 in 2022 and 15 in 2023.

According to District Health Director, Dr. Justice Ofori-Amoah, the reported cases in the district warrant a closer examination and a concerted effort to develop sustainable solutions to effectively address these health concerns and improve the overall well-being of the district.

“Getting a hypertension is not a death warrant. It only means that, your system is not getting the needed attention,” he said.

Dr. Ofori-Amoah revealed that the district has initiated a stakeholders’ engagement campaign, educating and screening individuals multiple times – about five times per person.

Additionally, the district will meet with all organized groups to discuss the conditions and the ongoing screening exercise, ensuring a collaborative approach to addressing these health concerns.

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Representatives from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHAFoG) engaged in discussions with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to strategize the integration of these initiatives into Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage framework.

The collaborative effort seeks to transition the focus of healthcare delivery from primarily curative measures to proactive preventive and promotive interventions.

The initiative targets a range of health challenges including communicable and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, and overall wellbeing.

The Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kumah-Aboagye, underscored the significance of this partnership, particularly in light of the GHS’s establishment of Wellness Clinics across the nation in 2020.

He expressed confidence that aligning with the NHIA’s preventive health approach would yield sustainable healthcare outcomes for communities nationwide.

CHAG’s Executive Director, Dr Peter Yeboah, hailed the collaboration as a transformative endeavour, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Ghana.

He stressed the importance of genuine commitment and effective partnership between the NHIA and healthcare providers to ensure the success of the program.

Representatives from the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana also echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the vital role of innovation and public-private partnerships in advancing healthcare goals.

The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, affirmed his commitment to working collaboratively with stakeholders to implement preventive and promotive health interventions.

He highlighted the anticipated positive impact of these initiatives on Ghana’s healthcare system, including the potential for long-term reductions in NHIA claims payments.

The discussion was moderated by the Former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and chairman of the facilitating committee, Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah ensuring a constructive and productive exchange of ideas.

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AstraZeneca, one of the vaccines used during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has announced a global withdrawal of its vaccines.

The pharmaceutical giant cited the existence of an uncommon adverse effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) as the reason behind this decision.

TTS is characterized by the formation of blood clots that obstruct veins or arteries, leading to potentially severe complications such as strokes or heart attacks.

Symptoms may include unilateral leg pain and swelling, chest discomfort, or one-sided body numbness. The company’s acknowledgment of these risks has prompted the withdrawal of its vaccines from circulation.

The withdrawal is not a result of medical implications but rather due to commercial competition and a surplus of available updated vaccines since the pandemic.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, clarified this during a tour as part of the COVID-19 Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week/African Vaccination Week Campaign in various parts of the Ga East Municipality in Accra on Wednesday, May 8.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye emphasized that while the withdrawal may raise concerns, it is important to understand that the decision is not related to the vaccine’s efficacy or safety. Instead, it is driven by market dynamics and the availability of newer vaccine options.

“They are withdrawing for commercial reasons in the sense that there are superior vaccines in the market.”

“And so if you are in a market and you will not be able to compete why produce something when others will go for some other brand,” he said.

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Dr. Kwabena Sarpong, the Deputy Regional Director of Public Health, assured the public that there was no confirmed case in the Assin-Fosu Municipality of the Central Region but urged them to remain vigilante and maintain personal hygiene.

He said the Service had heightened surveillance to pick up, manage, and institute the necessary control measures should there be an occurrence in the region.

Dr. Sarpong told the Ghana News Agency on Monday that it was important the public stuck to hand hygiene practices and the wearing of masks, especially in enclosed places, as the mode of transmission of the disease was like the COVID-19.

The initial presentation is like most infectious diseases; fever, weakness, and chills, he said, and monkeypox is suspected when the skin lesion sets in.

However, he said it was important that when people felt unwell, they should self-isolate, especially when investigations had not been done to ascertain the cause.

The disease, Dr. Sarpong said, could be infectious before one could fully show the symptoms and, therefore, must avoid direct contact with people once they showed those symptoms.

The first known human infection was in 1970, in a nine-year-old boy in a remote part of Congo.

Most patients only experienced fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue and those with more serious illness may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that could spread to other parts of the body.

The incubations period was about five days to three weeks although people mostly recovered within about two to four weeks without hospitalisation.

Monkeypox could be fatal for up to one in 10 people and was thought to be more severe in children.

People exposed to the virus are often given one of several small pox vaccines, which have shown to be effective against monkeypox, while anti-viral drugs are also being developed to control the disease.

Members of the public have been advised to report to the nearest hospital when not feeling well and experiencing some skin rashes.

Lead Virologist at Noguchi Memorial Institute, Professor William Ampofo, says the outfit will collaborate with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to commence contact tracing in communities to detect the new Covid-19 variant.

Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, speaking at the launch of December as Covid-19 month, revealed that the new variant was detected at the country’s borders.

The virus was detected in persons travelling from Nigeria and South Africa into the country.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Professor Ampofo noted that the new variant has not yet been detected in communities.

He added that the Institute together with the GHS will continue to study the virus to detect its severity and behaviour.

“The Ghana Health Service has a contact tracing system in place so we will be working with them on this,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has activated its mandatory protocols to ensure the vaccination of more people against Covid-19 especially during the Christmas festivities.

According to the Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, vaccine certificates would be inspected to ensure compliance.

Ghana’s daily vaccination rate has shot up to about 142,000.

The Director-General of the GHS made this known on Sunday while addressing the press on the additional measures taken by the government to control the spread of Covid-19 ahead of the Christmas festivities.

The GHS boss is hopeful that the number will continue to increase as the country aims at reaching its target of vaccinating 20 million people by the end of the year.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye made this known on Sunday while addressing the press on the additional measures taken by the government to control the spread of Covid-19 ahead of the Christmas festivities.

He said that the country has more vaccines in stock as more consignments have been received over the past four weeks.

In view of that, he said there would be a ramp-up in vaccinations.

“In all, about 5.41 million people have been vaccinated. We have the vaccines there. We have had them since the last four weeks and so we are going to ramp up the vaccination,” he said.

“The real daily vaccination numbers are soaring. We have reached about 142,000 doses a day and that is how we are going to continue to ensure that we live up to expectation,” the GHS boss added.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye disclosed that the country is expecting to receive over 7 million Covid-19 vaccines before the year ends.

With this consignment, the total number of vaccines received in Ghana since the onset of the pandemic will be 20 million. He added that it is now the responsibility of Ghanaians to get vaccinated.

“…more than 7.4 million doses are supposed to come in between now and probably December. We may even get more than this and that will take us to about 20 million vaccines that have come into the country before the end of the year. What is left for us is to take it,” Dr Kuma-Aboagye said.

The GHS boss also intimated that various strategies are being adopted to ensure many more people are vaccinated.

He disclosed that vaccination centres are being set up at strategic places to make it more convenient for the public.

“Our strategy remains the same. One is to be strategic about where all our facilities are providing vaccination. We are also going around taking the vaccine to the people. We are also doing mobile vaccination where people will go to the lorry park and see a car parked giving a vaccination.

“We are doing a campout. There are places where you can’t go and come back the same day. The team will go there, set up a camp, stay there and vaccinate the people,” he said.

According to the Director-General of GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, such individuals are seven times more likely to die if they contract the virus compared to a vaccinated person.

The GHS boss made this known on Sunday while addressing the press on the additional measures taken by government to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic ahead of the Christmas festivities.

“Information from the Ghana Infectious Diseases Centre shows that among the severe and critical cases, 97 were unvaccinated. Among the Covid-19 deaths in a particular month where we had 16 deaths, two amounting to 12.5 per cent were vaccinated but these two people had severe underlying medical conditions,” he said.

In view of this, he underscored the need for everyone to get vaccinated.

The GHS has employed the use of the AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sputnik-V and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in its exercise. The government has procured some 12,324, 710 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in its fight against the pandemic.

Currently, a total of 1,404,122 Ghanaians have been fully immunised against the virus, representing 7 per cent of the entire population.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has revealed that the country has seen a decline in the number of active cases in the past two months. The Greater Accra Region remains the largest Covid-19 hotspot.

He blamed this occurrence on the gross disregard for the Covid-19 safety protocols.

Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye also noted that for the past two weeks, the Kotoka International Airport has recorded a surge in cases. These cases were recorded by international travelers.

As of November 28, a total of 629,831 tests have been ran at the airport. These tests showed that 3,093 of the passengers had contracted the virus.

As at November last year, the GHS recorded 163 cases at the Kotoka International Airport.

“There has been a surge mostly among Ghanaians who participated in an international religious conference. It also mimics what had been happening outside. There is a surge in Europe and some parts of the world so the airport tests continue to pick these signals. I think it is something we must take seriously. It is a warning for us to see that these are times we need to be more careful,” Dr Aboagye added.

He also gave the assurance that the 72-hour PCR and antigen test will be strictly enforced.

As of November 25, 2021, active cases recorded stood at 713 with 22 being severe cases. The country’s total death toll is now 1,220.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show, on November 26, 2021, Director of Public Health at the GHS, Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, added that 20% of the population has so far received at least a shot of the Covid-19 vaccines.

“As at Wednesday, 5,007,731 vaccines, which is about 20% of Ghanaians have been administered and then we have 6.1% that have fully vaccinated,” he said.

This is in contrast with the government’s initial target of getting 20 million people vaccinated by the end of 2021.

During the show, Dr Bekoe explained that the target has not been met due to various factors including the reluctance of citizens to take the vaccines and constraints associated with the procurement of the vaccines.

“There was a challenge at the beginning of the vaccination. There was this hullabaloo about the side effects of the AstraZeneca,” he said.

Nonetheless, he said the Service is still bent on attaining its goal. “Our current goal as the Ghana Health Service, is to get people to take the vaccines,” he said.

He disclosed that the government is committed to buying 17m doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

The infection was announced as an outbreak by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on October 29, 2021.

Some 18 others are also on admission at some health facilities and are being treated for the virus.

A statement from the GHS indicates that a team of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Disease Control was dispatched to the region to investigate the outbreak and enforce control measures.

Following their engagement with stakeholders in the affected areas and thorough assessment, a decision has been taken to dispatch 50,300 doses of Yellow Fever vaccines from GHS headquarters to some selected districts for inoculation.

An update, signed by Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, explained that over 43,615 persons in the Savannah Region have been vaccinated as part of the intervention.

The GHS Director-General further added that his outfit will “continue with efforts aimed at improving outcomes for persons who are unfortunately affected while continuing with the vaccination drive to improve the immunity of the population against Yellow Fever.”

Below is the full statement:

The Director of Health Promotion at the GHS, Dr Aboagye DaCosta, revealed this in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday.

He said the exercise will begin in the Ashanti Region on Friday, August 13, whilst that of the Greater Accra Region will commence on Monday, August 16.

“A total of 11 districts in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions have been selected by the Service for the vaccination exercise,” he noted.

Dr DaCosta urged those who will take the vaccines to eat well and drink a lot of water.

Asokwa, Kumasi Metropolitan, Kwadaso and Oforikrom are District Assemblies selected by the GHS to receive the vaccines in the Ashanti Region.

In the Greater Accra Region; Ablekuma Central, Accra Metropolitan, Adentan, Ga South, OkaiKwei North, Tema Metro, and Kpone Katamanso have been selected.

Dr DaCosta indicated that those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine are exempted from this vaccination exercise.

“We will plead with those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine not to go for this,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government took delivery of the 177, 600 doses of the vaccines on Saturday, August 7, as part of the first batch of the Africa Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.

So far, 405,971 have been fully vaccinated by receiving both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, whilst 865,422 have received only the first dose.

Ghana has confirmed 109,022 cases of the virus, and currently has 6,765 cases with 892 deaths.

A statement, signed by the Director-General, Dr Patrick Aboagye, said the testing is genuine.

This comes on the back of a viral video that captured two passengers who allegedly tested positive to covid-19 upon arrival at KIA.

They took to social media to register their displeasure about the results and the need for them to go into isolation for seven days.

The women, who have been identified as Mavis Boateng and Ivy Ankrah, claimed the mandatory antigen test for arriving passengers was fake.

But reacting to the video, Dr Kuma-Aboagye explained that although some passengers may have a negative PCR test from the country of origin, there can be a possibility of a positive result upon their arrival.

“It is worth noting that a person can present a negative PCR test on arrival and still test positive at KIA because he or she may be incubating the virus. Also, your test result status is specifically with reference to the date of doing the test, so any risky activities afterwards can change your status,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, GHS has assured the testing is authentic and meets international standards.

According to the Ministry, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) received the news at about 10:am on Friday, July 2, 2021, from the Covid-19 taskforce.

In a press release Friday, the Information Ministry said the GHS has confirmed that the undisclosed community reported its cases at 10:am on Friday, July 2.

According to the Information Ministry, the relevant agencies are taking the necessary steps to ensure that spread is contained. It also assured that the affected persons are in good health and have been admitted to the health facilities.

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Meanwhile, members of the general public have been advised to strictly adhere to the safety Covid-19 protocols set up by the government.

Also, the Service has indicated its outfit will, on Sunday, July 4, provide further information on the matter to the general public.

Read the full statement below:

The exercise, which began on May 19, is expected to inoculate about 360,000 persons who received their first jab from March 1 to 9, this year.

Dr Franklin Asiedu-Boeko, Director of Public Health at the GHS, said those who received their first jab from March 10, would have their second dose in the next phase.

He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra that 380,000 doses of vaccine had been specifically allocated to those in the first phase and said the exercise would not end on May 26 as stated earlier.

Dr Asiedu-Boeko described the exercise as impressive despite the failure of an online application introduced to make the exercise more effective.

“We are happy about the process so far because, despite complaints about the side effects of the vaccine, people are still interested in getting inoculated,” he said.

Dr Asiedu-Boeko assured the public that government was still making efforts to acquire more vaccines to get more people vaccinated.

He assured the public that the plan to vaccinate 20 million Ghanaians before the end of the year was on course.

Dr Asiedu-Boeko reiterated the need for the public to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing facemasks, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, coughing or sneezing into tissues, and washing of hands with soap under running water.

Ghana, on Tuesday, March 2, kicked off its mass COVID-19 vaccination exercise in 42 selected districts in the Greater Accra, Kumasi, and Western regions.

As of Friday, April 30, a total of 849,527 AstraZeneca vaccines had been administered to the public.

Ghana recorded its first case of Covid-19 on March 12, 2020. So far 92,513 cases have been confirmed with 783 deaths. There are 1,583 confirmed cases.

The novel coronavirus was first recorded in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019.

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals. In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It has an incubation period of four to six days and fatal, especially for those with a weakened immune system – the elderly and the very young. It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

The service has, in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, adopted chlorhexidine, an antiseptic found to be more effective in preventing umbilical cord infections in newborns.

It has, therefore, urged new mothers to take note of the new policy and desist from using unapproved substances in the treatment of the umbilical cord, stressing that doing so can put the lives of their babies in danger.

At a news conference in Accra yesterday, a Deputy Director of the Family Health Division of the GHS, Dr Isabella Sagoe-Moses, said the new policy was in response to the WHO’s recommendation in 2018 that countries that had high mortality rate at the time adopted chlorhexidine as a better way of preventing infection of the umbilical cord.

She said the adoption of chlorhexidine in umbilical cord care in newborns would reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity in the country.

“Methylated spirit has been changed to chlorhexidine because chlorhexidine is better antiseptic to prevent infection of the umbilical cord, and it is more effective,” she said.

Dr Sagoe-Moses added: “So immediately after delivery, as soon as the cord is cut, chlorhexidine is applied and the mother is given a tube of chlorhexidine to take home to apply daily to the cord until it drops off and heals.”

Child Health Week

The news conference formed part of activities marking the 2021 Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW), which started yesterday (Monday, May 10, 2021) and will end on Friday, May 14, 2021.

The GHS instituted the CHPW in 2004 as one of the sustainable ways of improving coverage of preventive child interventions.

The goal was to, among others, reduce child mortality and morbidity by creating awareness to increase demand for essential child health services.

Among the services usually delivered during the CHPW are childhood immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation; growth monitoring and promotion; nutrition counselling and support for optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and promotion of the use of insecticide treated bed nets.

This year’s exercise is on the theme: ‘Sustaining child health services in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.’

Outlining some of the achievements of the CHPW, Dr Sagoe-Moses said the initiative had contributed to a reduction in under-five mortality rate from 111 per 1,000 live births to 52 per 1,000 live births.

“Great gains have been made, and our records indicate that there has been a 53 per cent reduction in under-five mortality rate between 2003 and 2014,” she said.

Wider coverage

The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said although essential child health services were always available in public health facilities and outreach points, they were not routinely accessed by all, hence the need to increase awareness.

He said the implementation of the CHPW had contributed to a steady increase in the proportion of children under two years who were fully immunised, among other achievements.

“The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service are urging the general public to support actions that save lives and prevent disabilities by ensuring that children under five years benefit fully from all services offered at the Child Welfare clinics,” he said.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said Ghanaians who need to travel to any COVID-19 hotspots must observe all COVID-19 protocols.

“In view of the alarming rate of infections of COVID-19 in some parts of the world, especially in Asia and South America, the Ghana Health Service wishes to advise the general public to either cancel or postpone all non-essential travels to countries with exceedingly high COVID-19 infection rate,” the statement said.

The Ministry has also outlined some instructions for travellers arriving and leaving Ghana:

• Only test results or certificates bearing trusted travel or biomass codes will be considered valid for travel out of Ghana
• Sign up for accounts on (trustedtravel.panabios.org) with the same e-mail address and mobile numbers provided to laboratories during testing
• All arriving passengers who test negative for COVID-19 at the airport are encouraged to self-isolate for ten (10) days
• All passengers arriving from designated COVID-19 hot spots and testing negative at the airport may be subjected to a repeat test on the third day of arrival at their cost

Below is the full statement