The Member of Parliament (MP) for Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, Dr. Sabastian Sandare Ngmenenso, has stressed on the need for the government, through the Ministry of Health to put in order and strengthen health systems in the country so as to enable it come to terms with unforeseeable emergencies, such as the current coronavirus epidemic that has reared its ugly head in China, and spreading its tentacles across the world.
Describing the disease as serious and deadly, Hon. Ngmenenso pointed out that the disease, if not well managed, could wipe out an entire community with everybody being at risk. He pointed out that as the disease is not very well known and understood by scientists, it is of prime concern that all hands are put on the deck for total control of the disease.
Hon. Ngmenenso made this known in an interview after making a contribution to a statement on the epidemic in Parliament on Wednesday.
“The disease is serious and if not well managed, it has the potential of wiping out a country, and can affect anybody at all”, he stressed.
The MP, who is also a medical doctor maintained that the epidemic, like SARS, which also emanated from China in 2002, is equally dangerous and fast-spreading, saying that within 14 days, it could spread and affect its victims.
While describing it as a respiratory disease, the MP noted that it is not only unknown, but also not understood by scientists. It is against this reason that the World Health Organization (WHO) is sending a team of experts there to ascertain it. He stated that as at now, statistics on it were conflicting, and that one statistics had it that 106 out of 3000 infected men were dead but it could be more.
He was however of the conviction that those vulnerable to the epidemic were those with respiratory diseases such as asthma, TB patients, the aged, the malnourished and HIV/AIDS patients, whose health systems are already down.
He therefore suggested that people should eat balanced food, take enough water and rest sufficiently in order to strengthen their immune systems. The medical MP was however quick to point out that everybody had his own peculiar immunity, and the rate at which they could be affected.
Ghana Must Be On The Watch – Out!
Hon. Ngmenenso charged Ghanaian health authorities to be on the watch out now that the disease was reported to have come so close to neighbouring Ivory Coast. He pointed out that it was duty-bound for Ghana to strengthen her surveillance at her international border. In this regard, she must pick up suspected victims for quarantine and isolation so as not to affect others. Also there should be screening of travellers into the country via air, sea, land, especially those from the country of origin. He noted that these days, Ghanaians travel a lot to China for business transactions and the earlier China – Ghana bound visitors were screened the better. He however advocated that such screening conforms to one orders and should be one and same.
He indicated that symptoms of the disease involved fever, flu, cough and general malaise, before moving to its fully blown status. It could also be contracted through bodily touch and fluid. He subsequently called for the intensification of hygienic practices in this era of the threat of the epidemic.
Personnel Available, But Finance is Problem
Hon. Ngmenenso noted that Ghana was abound in personnel with the technological know-how. He maintained that he would not be surprised if Ghanaians could be among the WHO team to China. He pointed out that such Ghanaian experts always bring back their expertise. While noting that God provides for Ghana in such times, as happened in the cases of SARS and EBOLA, he urged the responsible authorities to endeavour to put in place the necessary measures in case of the unexpected.
While noting that finance was the problem, the Medical Dr. MP, called for an established and dedicated fund for such emergencies. Such a fund which he said could come from the NHIS fund, oil money, etc. should not be depleted.
Being passionate about national issues, the Honourable MP called for investment into Health Care Management Systems by providing adequate resources and logistics to strengthen surveillance and also intensify public education via all available medium.
By S. O. Ankamah