9 questions Ghana’s Health Minister needs to answer on preparedness for the coronavirus

Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has given benchmarks with which countries can measure their preparedness to contain or manage the novel corona virus that has hit the world hard.

To show a county’s preparedness, every Health Minister must answer the positively to the following questions.

Some of the basic questions a country’s Health Minister needs to address include:

“Are we ready for the first case?

Do we have enough medical oxygen, ventilators and other vital equipment?

How will we know if there are cases in other areas of the country?

Do our health workers have the training and equipment they need to stay safe?

Do we have the right measures at airports and border crossings to test people who are sick?

Do our labs have the right chemicals that allow them to test samples?

Are we ready to treat patients with severe or critical disease?

Do our hospitals and clinics have the right procedures to prevent and control infections?

Do our people have the right information? Do they know what the disease looks like?

Meanwhile Ghana’s Health authorities, the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service have assured the country that they are somewhat prepared to handle any cases in the country.

Meanwhile, OccupyGhana has suggested that Ghana considers the following variables:1 – Surveillance;2 – Containment;3 – Prevention;4 – Testing;5 – Treatment;6 – Coordination; and 7 – Finance.

But Dr Badu Sarkodie, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) says the country’s points of entry are under constant surveillance to curb the infiltration of the disease.