Ghana’s fight against viral disease, polio is far from over as it has been detected in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern region.
A statement issued by Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director General of the Ghana Health Service said type-2 of the poliovirus was detected through routine surveillance activities by the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the Noquchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
This, according to the statement, constitutes a Public Health Emergency as the viral disease affects all manner of persons, particularly children, leaving devastating effects like permanent paralysis or death.
As part of measures to prevent further spread to humans, the general public is encouraged to observe improved personal hygiene and good sanitation practices including:
- Promoting hand-washing with soap under safe running water;
- Promoting the clean use of toilet facilities and improve sanitary disposal of faeces;
- Establish mechanisms to encourage parents/care-givers of infants to complete the instituted vaccination schedule to protect their wards.
Below is a copy of the statement:
Source: Ghana|Adomonline.com|Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman