Medical doctor crusades against Ebola

A medical doctor has called for radical shift from traditional and cultural practices relating to funerals and religious services, which could fuel the spread of the deadly Ebola fever.

Ghana has not yet seen a confirmed case of the haemorrhagic viral fever that had claimed lives in excess of 4,000 most of them in Liberia, Sierra-Leone and Guinea, says Dr Samuel Osei Somuah, Atwima-Nwabiagya District Director of Health Services.

He urged Ghanaians to take a cue from what is happening in those West Africa states and change their way of doing things and inform themselves about the disease, to avoid infection.

Dr Somuah was speaking at a public health education forum held in Kumasi by Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health.

The theme: “Sanitation issues the key to prevent diseases, Ebola and cholera in focus - concern for all,” and it brought key stakeholders together to discuss the effects of disease pair.

Dr Somuah noted that Ghana is one of the high risk countries and that is why it should take steps to ensure aggressive and stronger response. He underlined the need to intensify public education to assist the people to take responsibility for their own protection and safety.

“There should be no time to waste, given the rate and scope of the spread of the Ebola,” he said.

Dr Kwasi Awudzi Yeboah, Kumasi Metropolitan Health Director, speaking on cholera said although there had been confirmed cases of the disease in the metropolis, it is nowhere near epidemic level.

He said out of the 56 suspected cases reported within the last 15 weeks, 17 were confirmed although there are zero deaths.

Mr Paul Akanaba Abaah, Ashanti Regional Environmental Health Officer, blamed cholera cases on poor environmental sanitation practices among the people and called for a change of habit.