MoH activates emergency response plan, heightened surveillance to combat Mpox
Published:
4 months ago
Source:
Channel 1 News
In response to the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that Mpox is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Ministry of Health (MoH), through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has activated its emergency response plan to address the potential threat of the disease within the country. This move, according to the ministry, aligns with the WHO's determination to intensify global efforts in combating the spread of Mpox, particularly in Africa. On August 14, 2024, the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus identified the significant upsurge of Mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and an increasing number of countries across Africa as constituting a PHEIC under the International Health Regulations (2005). The WHO has expressed concern about the potential for the disease to spread further across African nations and possibly beyond the continent. Consequently, the Ministry of Health issued a directive to all implementing agencies and stakeholders to heighten surveillance systems at all levels.