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President releases GH¢6million to fight Ebola

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the release of Gh¢6 million to fight the Ebola viral disease should it spread to Ghana.

This is in addition to the GH¢900, 000 earlier released for the same purpose.

The Gh¢6 million is for the procurement of 10,000 personal protection equipment, which will be airlifted into the country soon.

The President gave the directive when he met with the Inter-Ministerial Team that has been put together to lead the national effort to prevent the spread of the disease to Ghana; and also combat it if it should hit the country.

The Minister of Communications, Dr Omane Boamah, told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview after the meeting that, “Our strategy is to prevent the disease from spreading to Ghana”.

However, he said, “if any case is recorded, appropriate measures will be taken to protect the health workers and the public from contracting it.

This will be done through effective public education, among other measures”.

The Minister said the government had also provided insurance cover for health workers who may be affected by the disease in the course of duty.

“The government is also placing a moratorium on all international conferences in the country. This is hinged on the ECOWAS Commission’s decision at its last meeting on August 4, 2014 to suspend all meetings unless they are absolutely essential, and such meetings if they are to be held at all, will be well-guided,” the Minister said.

The moratorium, according to the Minister, will last for the next three months and is subject to review.

Dr Omane Boamah said the government had also taken a firm decision to deepen the existing dialogue with religious leaders, traditional authorities and all stakeholders with the view to achieving the co-operation of all in the national fight against the Ebola viral disease.

“The Field Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces will also be deployed to help in the construction of three treatment centres in the country,” the minister added.

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