The United States has released $1 million to Ghana to help with the adequate preparation towards a possible outbreak of the Ebola disease.
The amount is part of a total of $175 million the US says, it has committed to fight the epidemic which has had a devastating effect on three West African countries and currently posing challenges to other parts of the world.
At a press briefing in Accra, an Epidemiologist with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention CDC office at the US Embassy in Ghana, Dr Philip Rick said: “The US will be providing more technical assistance.”
He said there is already an official from the CDC here in Ghana to assist with the preparations.
He revealed that two weeks ago, a team from an Ebola international team form the CDC set up to focus on unaffected countries was in Ghana to meet with the Military, Ghana health service, National Disaster Management Organization NADMO , and all involved in Ghana’s Ebola preparedness to learn about Ghana’s efforts towards Ebola.
“The US mission is very engaged in Ebola preparedness,” Dr. Rick said.
Ghana’s readiness
According to the CDC, it has reason to believe that Ghana is better placed to deal with any outbreak.
This is contrary to views held by some Ghanaians and the Ghana Medical Association.
”Ghana is prepared I believe for the introduction of Ebola,” Dr. Rick said, adding that, “it will come in one or two cases. It will not come in a hundred cases. If it comes, Ghana will identify the case, isolate the case and do contact tracing.”
He added that, should the outbreak occur in Ghana and in large numbers, “the necessary resources will come into the country to help contain it.
Ebola has killed over 4, 000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea. The United States and Spain have also recorded their first case of the virus.
Source: Citifmonline
