Ghana risks slow responses to Ebola due to weak regional preparedness- Dr. Kingsley Agyeman warns
Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has cautioned that Ghana risks a slow and ineffective response to a possible Ebola outbreak due to weaknesses in the country’s regional preparedness and emergency healthcare systems.
He described the situation as a major national concern, warning that existing structures are not strong enough to handle a widespread health emergency.
According to him, although some improvements have been made over the years in disease surveillance and emergency response systems, significant gaps still remain in Ghana’s healthcare preparedness framework.
“We are not fully prepared as a country. A lot of the preparedness systems are concentrated in Accra, and if there should be an outbreak in another part of the country, we could face serious challenges responding effectively,” he said.
Dr. Agyemang stressed the need for a shift from reactive responses to proactive planning, insisting that Ghana must build stronger systems before outbreaks occur.
“We need to move from reactive measures to proactive preparedness. Disease outbreaks should not be handled only when they happen. The structures must already be in place,” he stressed.
He further identified inadequate healthcare infrastructure, limited emergency logistics, and gaps in regional preparedness as key weaknesses affecting the country’s response capacity.
According to him, epidemic preparedness must be treated as a national priority rather than only a health sector concern.
“This is not just a health issue; it is a national issue. An outbreak affects the economy, education, businesses and the general wellbeing of the country,” he stated.
Dr. Agyemang also called for the strengthening of health facilities across all regions to ensure they are capable of responding swiftly to emergencies.
“We must ensure that our hospitals, health workers and emergency response teams across all regions are adequately prepared and resourced,” he added.
He further emphasized the importance of public education, noting that citizens also have a critical role to play in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
“Public awareness is very important. People need to understand preventive measures, early symptoms and the importance of reporting suspected cases quickly,” he noted.
His remarks come amid renewed concerns across West Africa over the threat of Ebola outbreaks, with growing calls for governments to strengthen disease surveillance and emergency response systems.
Dr. Agyemang added that lessons from previous health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, should guide Ghana in building a more resilient and decentralised healthcare system capable of responding effectively to future outbreaks.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng
