The Central Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Alberta Biritwum-Nyarko, has called on health workers in Ghana's Central Region to intensify surveillance and preparedness in the fight against the Ebola virus. This follows a reported outbreak in Nigeria, which she described as a wake-up call for health managers and frontline workers in the region. Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko made the call during supportive visits to various health facilities across the region.
Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko's visits form part of engagements initiated by the Regional Director to assess healthcare delivery, identify operational challenges, and provide support to health facilities. She was accompanied by members of the Senior Management Committee, including Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr. Jojo Cobbinah, and Regional Public Relations Officer, Mr. Georges Fritz Doe. The visits aimed to ensure health facilities are prepared to respond to potential outbreaks.
During her visits, Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko emphasized the importance of public education in preventing and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. She urged health facilities to intensify public education on Ebola and other infectious diseases while ensuring staff remain alert to suspected cases and comply with established surveillance and reporting protocols. The public was also encouraged to take hand hygiene seriously and practice recommended infection prevention and control measures.
The facilities visited assured Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko and her team of their readiness to respond to potential outbreaks. The Medical Director of St. Gregory Catholic Hospital, Dr. Laryea Yemoh, disclosed that the facility had designated an area for managing suspected cases requiring isolation. However, he appealed for the deployment of additional medical officers to meet growing healthcare needs in the region.
Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko acknowledged the operational challenges confronting health facilities, including inadequate staffing, shortages of equipment and logistics, and increasing workload on health personnel. She commended health workers for their dedication and encouraged facility managers to explore practical measures to address operational gaps while ensuring efficient use of available resources.
The Regional Director also called on Human Resource Managers to strengthen monitoring of staff on study leave to ensure compliance with approved arrangements. She expressed concern about instances where staff reportedly failed to attend their approved programs of study, resulting in audit infractions. Heads of various facilities expressed appreciation for the visits, describing them as timely and helpful.
The supportive visits will continue across other districts and health facilities in the Central Region as part of the Regional Directorate's commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and supporting frontline workers. The visits have provided an opportunity for health facilities to share challenges directly with regional management.
Key points
- Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko urges health workers to heighten Ebola surveillance and strengthen preparedness.
- The Central Regional Health Director conducts supportive visits to assess healthcare delivery and identify operational challenges.
- Health facilities in the region assure the Regional Director of their readiness to respond to potential outbreaks.
