Health News of Monday, 20 October 2014

Source: Ajayi Oluwapelumi Tobi

Ghana is still at risk of contracting Ebola – Health Specialist

A public health specialist with the Ghana health Service, Dr Emmanuel Dzotsi has reiterated the alarm that Ghana is still very much at risk of contracting Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) if proactive steps spoken about are not effectively implemented, “because Ghana is still surrounded by countries battling with containing the deadly disease”.

Dr. Dzotsi made this assertion at the launch of One Ghana Uniting Against Ebola Campaign- sponsored by Dalex Finance and Business & Financial Times (B&FT) on Saturday,18th October at the Rawlings Park.

In his effort to enlighten the hundreds of audience present at the venue, Dr. Dozotsi advised Ghanaians not to touch nor eat bushmeat, as well as making sure they wash their hands and make their environment clean.

He asserted that so far, Ghana had five suspected cases of Ebola, but all proved to be negative.

One Ghana Uniting Against Ebola campaign is aimed at preventing Ghanaians from contracting the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) through educational campaigns and materials across the 10 regions of Ghana.

According to Mr. George Jackson of Dalex Finance and Leasing Company Limited: “One Ghana Uniting Against Ebola Campaign is not just a phrase but a strong statement- signaling our resolve to rise up as one nation, with singular determination to fight this deadly epidemic; a proactive step toward ensuring that Ghanaians are well informed of the possible causes of the disease, and how to avoid contracting it.”

Mr. Jackson explained that the One Ghana Uniting Against Ebola is a project designed to inspire Ghanaians to spread the word, and not the disease.

According to a press release made available to GhanaWeb, the Ebola Virus Education Fund aimed at raising One million Ghana cedis; Dalex championing the cause has donated Ghc100,000 towards the fund.

He urged individuals and corporate organisation to follow suit- as the potential effect of the Ebola disease outbreak on the already weak Ghanaian economy could be severe.

Present at the event were representatives of UNICEF-Ghana, Miss Malaika delegates and celebrities such as Victoria Michaels, Stacy Amoateng, Toosweet Annan, Vincent McCauley Jnr among others.

The event was also supported by UNICEF Ghana and VM Consult.