Ghana has boosted its preparedness to respond and combat infectious disease outbreaks, with a three-day comprehensive simulation exercise, positioning the country as a regional hub for health emergencies.
The simulation exercise would see over the capacity of more than 100 public health workers enhanced through the deployment of innovative rapid response, and effective management of high-risk outbreaks.
Two critical health emergency solutions would be hosted at the Critical Care and Emergency Hospital, operated by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which would also serve Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda.
They are Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM), and Health Emergency Facility (HEF), which would have the state-of-the-art treatment and containment solutions for rapid setting up of key facilities in remote or crisis-affected areas.
It is a partnership between the World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Dr Darius Kofi Osei, the Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Health, said the two solutions would be “game changers in the management and response to outbreaks of dangerous pathogens.”
“These solutions will enable the setting up of functional and highly equipped facility modules within 24 hours to commence the treatment of cases.” Dr Osei said.
“This innovation minimises the risk of disease spread and transportation and also helps keep established health facilities from the stigma associated with the management of such highly infectious diseases,” he noted.
In an interview, Dr Mory Keita, Regional Director in charge of Emergency Preparedness, WHO, stated that the exercise was to help test the country’s capacity in emergencies through a multi-agency approach.
He explained that Ghana was selected because of the establishment of a WFP hub that could facilitate the emergency preparedness and response, as well as encourage knowledge sharing with other countries.
Referring to the likes of Ebola, Murburg, and COVID-19, he noted that the future of any pandemic outbreak remained unknown, urging countries to constantly build the capacities of its professionals to make them ready.
He said the simulation exercise formed part of international health monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, enabling countries to test their capacities for emergency situations, and lauded Ghana for taking the initiative.
Mr Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Country Deputy Representative, explained that the initiative, was to ensure that sector players worked together to prepare to respond swiftly and effectively and mitigate the devastating impact of emergencies.
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF, WHO, and MSF launched the Health Emergency Facility (HEF) project. This initiative aims to create a universal health facility that enables rapid, safe, and family-friendly outbreak response,” he stated.
The facility aims to ensure that children receive timely and appropriate care, even in the most challenging circumstances, including nutrition, and psychosocial support to children affected by emergencies.
GNA