Government says it has directed the release of GHC 6 million to fight West Africa’s deadliest epidemic, Ebola.
In a press statement issued by the Ministry of Communication, 10,000 protective gears are to be procured for frontline workers in health, immigration and other agencies who are most likely to encounter a possible victim.
The directive was given after the President’s meeting with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Ebola on Wednesday.
“Also the President advised that consistent with the decision of the ECOWAS Commission that all meetings and missions be suspended unless absolutely essential and well-guided, a three (3) month moratorium be placed on all international conferences and international gatherings which have the potential of spreading the Ebola Virus,” Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Communications Minister, said in the statement.
The meeting also resolved to deepen consultations with religious leaders, traditional authorities and all stakeholders with the view to soliciting their full support for the ongoing awareness creation efforts.
Read full statement below
PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA DIRECTS THE RELEASE OF ADDITIONAL GHC6MILLION TO FIGHT THE EBOLA VIRAL DISEASE (EVD)
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama met with his team of Ministers coordinating Ghana’s response to the Ebola Viral Disease on 13th August, 2014. The meeting reviewed and evaluated not only interventions instituted so far, but also successes and challenges associated with the fight against the deadly Ebola Viral Disease in Ghana.
Ghana has tested all the forty-five (45) suspected cases of Ebola Viral Disease. The results were negative.
However the challenges in West Africa persist. As of 6 August 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone stood at 1 779, including 961 deaths. The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 495 cases (355 confirmed, 133 probable, and 7 suspected), including 367 deaths; Liberia, 554 cases (148 confirmed, 274 probable, and 132 suspected), including 294 deaths; Nigeria, 13 cases (0 confirmed, 7 probable, and 6 suspected), including 2 deaths; and Sierra Leone, 717 cases (631 confirmed, 38 probable, and 48 suspected), including 298 deaths.
Arising out of the discussions, President Mahama, among other things, directed that;
Additional Six Million Ghana Cedis (GHC6million) be released immediately to augment the fight against EVD.
Ten Thousand additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) be procured to ensure the safety of frontline workers who may come into contact with the disease should an incident be recorded in Ghana.
Immediate steps be taken to secure an insurance policy for health workers who may be infected with the virus whiles providing service(s) to affected patients.
In addition the President reaffirmed the decision to reschedule the reopening dates of tertiary institutions and further tasked the Inter-ministerial team to institute urgent measures to screen all foreign students from the affected countries.
Also the President advised that consistent with the decision of the ECOWAS Commission that all meetings and missions be suspended unless absolutely essential and well-guided, a three (3) month moratorium be placed on all international conferences and international gatherings which have the potential of spreading the Ebola Virus.
The meeting resolved to deepen consultations with Religious Leaders, Traditional Authorities and all Stakeholders with the view to soliciting their full support for the ongoing awareness creation efforts.
Finally whiles expressing his unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of every Ghanaian the President further directed the immediate deployment of the Field Engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces to speed up the completion of the three designated Ebola Treatment centres in Tema, Kumasi and Tamale.
Signed
EDWARD KOFI OMANE BOAMAH (DR)
MINISTER
