The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr. Prosper Bani, has urged Vice-Chancellors, presidents, rectors and principals of all tertiary Institutions to join forces with government to ensure the Ebola outbreak that has affected four West African nations does not spread to Ghana.
According to Mr. Bani, there is need for effective cooperation and coordination of strategy between the inter-ministerial committee constituted by government and the heads of all tertiary institutions in the country.
He made the remarks during a key meeting with the heads of tertiary institutions, including private tertiary institutions, at Flagstaff House on Monday.
The meeting was called to coordinate efforts and strengthen preparatory planning and other measures relevant to preventing (and fighting, if necessary) the risk of Ebola entering Ghana and the various campuses.
It was revealed at the meeting that Government has procured 10,000units of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be given to frontline health workers. The Chief of Staff assured that health professionals working in both public and private tertiary institutions will also receive the PPEs when the consignment arrives in Ghana later this week.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Kweku Agyeman Mensah, announced that Ghana has not recorded any cases of Ebola so far. He stated that the 57 suspected cases reported so far from nine regions, with the exception of the Volta Region, have been tested and proved negative.
The Health Minister gave the assurance that government has established emergency response units across the country and already trained selected health personnel to man these emergency health facilities. Emergency expertise is also being provided at all entry points in Ghana, especially at airports.
Several heads of institutions gave updates on steps they have been taking to prevent Ebola, including setting up isolation units on campuses; public education of staff and students; procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); distribution of free sanitisers; and improvements in personal hygiene. Some of the speakers called for a more stringent observation of health procedures at the airports in particular.
The meeting agreed to ensure that all tertiary institutions establish emergency screening centres, intensify information campaigns on campuses, test simulation of preparedness exercises, and be ready to extend their health measures to communities around their campuses.
The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, indicated that communication will be sent out by out today as to when it will be considered appropriate to commence the 2014/15 academic year.
Samples of the 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment procured by Government were displayed at the meeting.
Ghanaian Tertiary Education Institutions have 10,399 international students with 10,020 of this figure coming from African nations.
Other Ministers who addressed the meeting were the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Mark Woyongo, and the Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS