Health body expresses concern about Ebola screening

The Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO’s) in Health, has expressed concern about the inadequate health and immigration officials to screen travellers on the deadly Ebola viral disease.

The coalition has also noted that information to the public on the disease seems to be fragmented, jerky and frightening, while unreliable information is being circulated unprofessionally from many sources without any control and weighing the effects on the public.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Accra, Kenneth Wujanji, National Board Chairman of the Coalition urged its members across the country to continue with its public education by use of the media.

He also tasked members of the coalition to integrate effective health promotion strategies and activities on the disease as a cross cutting issue in all activities.

Mr Wujanji called on the private sector, traditional authorities and traditional rulers to contribute resources to fight against Ebola and Cholera as their social responsibility to the people of Ghana.

The Board Chairman said government and its agencies should build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) and NGO’s to give accurate education and information about the disease and also strengthen central coordination point to effectively coordinate all activities and involve stakeholders to be responsible for information dissemination on the two diseases.

He said food vendors who sell around choked gutters and refuse dumps, particularly at lorry parks and market places have to be apprehended.

He said the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies should ensure that refuse dumps and water bodies are maintained to prevent the public from eating faecal matter.

Mr Wajanji said government and private sector businesses must invest in effective behavior change communication activities to promote positive behaviour among Ghanaians and that limited resources must be monitored and used efficiently to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

Madam Cecilia Senoo, National Vice Chairperson of the coalition said government has left out civil society in the fight against the diseases.

She said CSO’s are there to help abuse the minds of the people about the diseases and called on Corporate Ghana to help the coalition to win the war of Ebola in Ghana.