Minister commends health personnel, security officers at Elubo border
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has commended health personnel stationed at the western border at Elubo in the Western Region for their continuous vigilance in making sure that the country did not record any person with a suspected case of Ebola entering the country is noticed.
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“Let me commend you for your efforts as this has helped the country hold itself against any incidence of Ebola,” Dr Bampoe said.
Ever since personnel at the border were provided with infra-red thermometers about six months ago, they have screened about 50,030 travellers between Ghana and Ivory Coast for the Ebola viral disease (EVD).
Dr Bampoe made the commendation when he led members of the Ebola Emergency Operations Team on a two-day visit to the Elubo border to assess the preparedness of the health personnel to contain any case of the Ebola disease into the country. The Ebola Emergency Operations Team was set up by the government to spearhead the fight against Ebola in the country.
The visit to the Elubo border was also to assess measures put in place at the entry point and identify gaps, if any, and look for ways of addressing any deficiencies.
‘Don’t relent’
According to Dr Bampoe, although health personnel on the Cote d’Ivoire side of the border were also working hard, he was so far very satisfied with efforts put in by personnel of the Port Health Authority and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
He urged them to not relent in their efforts, since one case that would slip through their fingers could turn things upside down and reverse all gains made.
Durbar with Deputy Minister
At a durbar held for health and security personnel and other workers at the border post, the Head of Port Health at Elubo, Mr Yaw Gyimah Ansah, said any suspected case of Ebola was referred to the nearest health facility.
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He said the health centre also each collaborated with the security agencies at the border and complemented the other’s efforts.
He urged the Ghana Ambulance Service (GAS) to provide the Elubo border health post with an ambulance to facilitate the work of the health personnel.
A Deputy Superintendant of Immigration (DSI), Mr Alexander Kpodgi, called for enhanced public education on the disease because people were beginning to think that the disease had been eradicated.
Mr Kpodgi, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Elubo Ebola Preparedness Committee, requested for logistics and other resources that health personnel could use in educating inhabitants in the area on the disease.
Unapproved routes
The acting Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Smart Osei-Bonsu, said immigration officers had been detailed to patrol unapproved routes and supervise activities along the border from dawn to dusk each day in order to check smuggling activities.
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