Kwaku Agyeman Manu – Health Minister
The Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research(NMIMR) – through routine surveillance activities on polio – have detected and confirmed Poliovirus type 2 from environmental sample in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region.
A statement signed by the Chief Director, MOH, Nana Kwabena Adjei-Mensah, indicated that the Ministry of Health has initiated a detailed field investigation to identify possible source of the infection and determine the extent of geographic spread.
The Ministry also intend to conduct a risk assessment and potential for further spread, including transmission to humans, the statement revealed.
A surveillance enhancement, advocacy communication and social mobilization would be conducted as well, it said.
The Ministry of Health as part of measures to prevent further spread is encouraging the general public to observe improved personal hygiene and good sanitation practices such as washing hands after using toilet facilities, before preparing food , before eating or before feeding a baby, and before serving meals.
The Ministry urged the general public to desist from defecating in the open.
“We wish to assure the general public that, the Ministry of Health together with its partners is doing everything possible to prevent he further spread of the virus from the environment to humans, ” the statement signed the Ministry’s Chief Director said.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale