With the onset of the meningitis season approaching, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has taken decisive action by dispatching a specialized team to the five meningitis belt regions in northern Ghana and the Bono East Region.
The move is aimed at assessing and enhancing Ghana’s preparedness to respond swiftly to any potential outbreaks.
The three-member advance team, comprising a senior laboratory officer from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, a disease surveillance officer, and a case management clinician, will tour key regions to evaluate the robustness of surveillance systems and laboratory capacities for early detection of meningitis cases. Their mission also involves reviewing case management protocols at selected health facilities to ensure that best practices are in place.
As part of a broader proactive strategy, the team will scrutinize existing preparedness and response plans, offer on-the-job technical support to local health teams, and identify urgent gaps that need to be addressed to boost the nation’s overall readiness.
Northern Ghana’s meningitis belt remains particularly susceptible to seasonal outbreaks, especially during the dry season. Early planning and coordinated efforts are therefore critical in reducing illness and saving lives.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Ghana Health Service emphasized the importance of early detection, effective case management, and timely public health interventions to protect vulnerable communities as the country braces for the meningitis season.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
