Pharmaceutical Society against hosting of African Cup of Nations
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has added its voice to the call on the government not to host the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease in some African countries.
Advertisement
According to the society, the devastating nature of the disease is likely to impact negatively on the health of Ghanaians if it should host the tournament.
“Allowing AFCON to be hosted in Ghana in January 2015 will be a very big mistake for which posterity will never forgive us since the Ebola warning signs are very clear on the wall,” it stated.
It made reference to comments said to have been made recently by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mahama Ayariga, indicating that Ghana was ready to host the AFCON 2015 tournament slated for January to February 2015.
Support for Morocco
In a statement signed and issued by the President of the PSGH, Mr James Ohemeng Kyei, the society said it supported Morocco’s decision to postpone the event, saying that it was appropriate and in the best interest of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) member countries not to spread the disease.
“Ghana must support Morocco’s request for postponement so that Morocco will host it at an appropriate time”, it said.
Morocco originally was scheduled to host the event but considering the outbreak of the Ebola virus, it officially wrote to the CAF to withdraw from hosting the tournament.
Floodgates for Ebola
In view of the prediction by the United States Centre for Disease Control that there could be as many as 550,000 to 1.4million Ebola infections by January 2015, the PSGH said Ghana was digging its own grave should it host AFCON 2015.
“Hosting the tournament in Ghana is tantamount to opening the floodgates for Ebola virus carriers to come in in their numbers and later infect the good people of Ghana with the virus”.
“This is because the 2-21 days. incubation period of the Ebola virus will allow entry of those who have contracted the virus but do not show the signs and symptoms of the Ebola virus disease yet,” it stated.
It noted with concern that the treatment of Ebola patients even in the first world with advanced health systems posed a big challenge to them now.
Health workers at risk
Some of the few Ebola patients that were admitted to hospitals in countries such as Germany, USA and Spain had died despite the access to quality care, including the use of experimental antiviral drugs.
“So if developed countries do not find it easy to treat Ebola cases, then only God knows what will happen in Ghana should there be an outbreak, but God forbids”, it noted.
It expressed worry about the infections and death toll of the disease on health professionals, who are at the fore front of fighting the disease.
Ghanaian health workers must also be saved from these avoidable Ebola infections and deaths, it said, adding that more than 200 health workers had been killed by the disease.
Christian Council of Ghana
In a related development, the Christian Council of Ghana has stressed the need for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone next year’s event in the wake of the Ebola outbreak.
It said it was a big mistake for CAF to be shopping for a country to host the 2015 tournament while the continent grappled with the worst Ebola outbreak in history.
Morocco was scheduled to host next year’s games but the country indicated to CAF it was unable to do so for fear of bringing Ebola to its people.
CAF consequently wrote to the Government of Ghana to consider hosting the games.
But the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr Opuni Frimpong, told Joy News that the CAF must postpone the tournament entirely.
He said the continental football governing body must show sensitivity to the plight of the continent, which has lost more than 4,000 people to Ebola.
He was speaking on the topic “Ebola and Spirituality” on JOY FM’s Christian Talk show, “A Walk with Jesus,” on Sunday night.