Ghana has installed thermal scanners at Accra International Airport and is finalising electronic health declaration forms for incoming travellers as part of measures to prevent an Ebola outbreak.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced the measures after inspecting screening and emergency response systems at the airport, assuring the public that the country was prepared to detect and contain any suspected case.
He said Ghana had not recorded an Ebola case and urged the public to remain calm while health authorities strengthened surveillance at the country’s entry points.
Mr Akandoh said the electronic declaration forms would allow passengers to submit relevant health information before arrival, helping officials identify travellers who may require further assessment.
He said the Ministry of Health would soon issue an official statement on the system’s implementation, after which airlines and airport authorities would be expected to ensure passengers completed the forms.
The minister stressed that early detection, contact tracing and rapid containment were critical to preventing the spread of the disease, particularly given the limited treatment options for the Ebola strain of concern.
He added that designated isolation and treatment facilities were available should a case be detected.
“We are ready, and we are praying we don’t record any case, but if we do, we are ready to do the needful,” he said.
Mr Akandoh insisted that all arriving passengers must comply with screening protocols, regardless of their status, and disclosed that screening capacity was also being expanded at land borders.
The measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s preparedness for infectious disease threats.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
