Ghana Health Service sensitizes traditional healers on Ebola
Dr. Badu Sarkodie, Director, Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service, has urged traditional healers to promptly refer any suspected case of the deadly hemorrhagic viral Ebola disease to the health facilities.
They should avoid the mistake of attempting treatment with herbal preparations or making spurious claims of cure.
He was speaking at a day’s sensitization meeting on the disease held with members of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) in Kumasi.
It formed part of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the World Health Organization’s collaborative effort on Ebola response and preparedness in Ghana.
This comes amid the worst outbreak of the fever in some West African countries with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as the epicenter of the disease outbreak.
Dr. Sarkodie said it was important for all to continue to remain on the alert and accept to do the right things to keep themselves save.
He noted that the members of the Federation have vital roles to play in the management of any unexpected outbreak since they serve as the “first port of call” in their communities.
He told the meeting that adequate measures had been put in place by the government to deal with any emergency and cited the setting up of isolation and treatment centres.
He said none of the 131 suspected Ebola cases reported in the country proved positive, adding that, there should not be any reason to create fear and panic.
Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director General of Health Service, said all should be concerned about the protection of the nation from the disease.
He said they were doing everything to aid the people to know all that they should know about the disease.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, applauded the WHO for the enormous support in the fight against the spread of the dreadful viral fever.
Mr. Kojo Odum Eduful, President of the Federation, appealed for their representation on the national Ebola management monitoring team.
Source: GNA