Ghanaian Health Sector Workers Unions joined their counterparts in the sub-region to commemorate the West African Health Organization (WAHO) Day in Accra.

WAHO was established by the heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1987 as a specialised Agency with clear mandate to provide the highest level of health benefits to it populations.

WAHO is to attain “the highest possible standard and protection of health of the people in the sub-region through harmonisation of the policies of member states and pooling of resources for a collective strategic combat against health problems afflicting the sub-region".

They day, jointly celebrated with West African Health Sector Unions Network (WAHSUN) and funded by Public Service International (PSI) was on the theme, “The contribution of mobile phone in the management of epidemics of the community level”.

In an address read on his behalf, Mr Alex Segbefia, said the theme for this year’s celebration is appropriate because of the critical role the use of mobile phone plays in the management, prevention and control of epidemics like the Ebola.

He said the sub-region is confronted with a serious public health emergency that has claimed many precious lives.

“Available statistics show that Ebola claimed more than 11,000 lives among the three endemic countries since December 2013.”

Mr Segbefia said Ghana has not yet detected any case of Ebola, but the country has committed significant resources for scaling up the prevention strategies as well as acquiring the needed medical facilities to tackle the disease if the unfortunate situation happens.

“Medical equipment have been acquired and intensified public education and awareness campaign in collaboration with all stakeholders is still going on,” he said.

Mr Segbefia said the outbreak has a negative impact on the lives of the people within the sub-region and beyond.

“Ebola stigmatised our countries which made some Airlines to suspend their flights to the worst affected countries thereby making it very difficult to travel to such countries. I am happy that most of the Airlines have now started active operation to these affected countries,” he added.

He said it is sad that due to Ebola the beautiful Ghanaian cultural values were tainted with reservation.

“We were not able to happily shake hands and embrace our neighbours due to fear of contracting Ebola in the most affected countries.

“Economic activities across our sub-region had negatively been affected. Productivity has been slow and rate of poverty is rising steadily and many more people lost their jobs. All sectors of the economy including tourism have been slow,” he added.

Mr Segbefia said these regrettable characterisations have adverse socio-economic and cultural consequences not just for the affected countries but also for most of the countries across the world especially African Region.

Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, who read WAHO Director General’s Message, said the organization since its establishment 28 year ago had scored remarkable successes.

These include the implementation of its priority programmes, including epidemics control which contributed significantly to regional integration and playing a key role in ensuring the free movement of people and goods, which was often hampered by epidemics, among others.

She said despite the successes, WAHO is facing challenges such as weak health systems; high maternal, child and infant mortality rate; inadequate strategic partnerships, coordination and monitoring and evaluation; dire consequences of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and poor preparedness and response to emergencies.

“With specific references to preparedness and response to epidemics in recent years, thousands of people in our region have been hit by epidemics such as cholera, meningitis, measles, Lassa fever, yellow fever and since March 2014, by the Ebola virus disease epidemic.

“The high morbidity and mortality rate could be attributed to poor involvement of communities, and weak and fragile health systems as well as lack of communication for the adoption of positive behaviour,” she added.

Mr Abu D. Kuntulo, General Secretary of Health Sector Workers’ Union, said WAHSUN since its inception in 2007 it has concerned itself with all matters affecting health sector workers within the sub-region and beyond.

He said challenges facing it include how to obtain wider sub-sector collaboration in the region and how to extend representation and expand consultations to include others.

He expressed the hope to expand coverage of membership to Southern Africa as well as lobby others to form similar networks throughout the region.