Bolgatanga, Sept. 24, GNA - The Upper East Region has set up an epidemic committee to take care of all forms of epidemic related diseases that may breakout in the region. The committee, which is chaired by Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, would among other things formulate and enforce policies to check epidemic outbreaks such as the H1N1 influenza, Cholera, Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) and HIV/AIDS. The committee, made up of selected heads of department would draw up proposals for funding in order to acquire logistics to run its planned activities.

The committee had already put up a contingency action plan to help check the H1N1 influenza from spreading to the region and had directed district assemblies in the region to enforce sanitation and other environmentally related bye-laws to nib potential outbreak of diseases in the bud.

Dr James Akpabille, Deputy Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the pandemic H1N1 influenza was highly contagious because it affected the respiratory system and even though it spread fast the rate of deaths was low. He said the mode of transmission was mostly through droplets from coughing, sneezing and spitting by infected persons as well as touching surfaces that had the virus on it.

Dr Akpabille advised members of the public to take preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with people who appeared unwell and those who had fever, cough and a history of travelling to any of the affected countries. They should also minimize handshakes with those who are sick, he added.

He said the Ministry of Health and the GHS had trained and sensitized health workers especially those at border posts to increase their knowledge on the disease and measures they could take when they came into contact with people infected with disease. Mr Samuel N'lary, Regional Chief Coordinating Director, who chaired the meeting on behalf of the Regional Minister, said the way forward was to have regular committee meetings to provide regular updates and a list of activities which would strengthen its work. He called on members of the committee to be more committed to the duties assigned them. 24 Sept. 09