Ebola Scare: Gov't to release protective gear to schools

The Ghana government is set to present frontline health workers at all tertiary institutions with protective gear in their fight against Ebola, deputy minister in charge of tertiary education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.

According to new statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1,900 people have died and 40% of that figure died in the past three weeks.

Speaking on private radio station Peace FM, the minister said the heads of the tertiary institutions have reported to his ministry about their readiness to screen foreign students, especially, those coming from Ebola-affected countries.

Senegal is the latest country in West Africa to report a fresh case.

Okudzeto Ablakwa admitted that the government has not provided the institutions with any screening equipment nor delegated officials to inspect all the institutions to ascertain the veracity of their preparedness.

He, however, said he believes these reports of readiness are credible.

“The heads of our institutions are credible and there is no way they will say they are ready to do the screening if they were not," he said.

“We are ready to start distributing protective clothing. Our institutions are very capable bodies.”

The University of Ghana is expected to reopen on Friday.