Pandemic influenza awareness campaign held in Sunyani

Sunyani, Aug. 10, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has called on the general public to practice personal hygiene to help check the spread of influenza in the communities. He made the call at the launch of a regional awareness campaign programme on pandemic influenza preparedness in Sunyani, organised by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), in partnership with German International Cooperation (GIZ).

The programme seeks to raise the level of collaboration and strengthen public and private partnership in pandemic preparedness, to be able to respond effectively in the event of a pandemic outbreak. Mr Nyamekye Marfo stated that the total number of confirmed cases of influenza in some districts and regions and periodic local outbreaks recorded in the country indicated that everybody is at risk. He entreated the public to seek early treatment whenever they contract the disease at the nearest health care centre. Mr said the government acknowledged that 93a healthy workforce is productivity labour force in our nation building. Indeed it is not the quantum of physical resources endowment of a nation, which determines its level of development but the blend of good health, skills and attitudes of its human resources."

"A healthy state has the propensity to ensure uninterrupted productivity of goods and services at all levels of our economy, thereby leading to sustained and accelerated development, which will improve the quality of life of our people", the Regional Minister noted. Mr Nyamekye Marfo said history had shown that 93flu pandemic could be= a difficult time that could bring fear and uncertainty", but people should always remember not to aggravate the unhealthy situation by acting out of desperation.

He urged all to spearhead the crusade to help reduce the impact of future pandemic flu's and minimize its disruption in society and the economy.

Mr Joseph B. Nyarko, Regional Coordinator of NADMO, said the organisation in collaboration with the GIZ, is supporting a number of institutions to develop capacity for pandemic preparedness, to guide institutions to integrate in their normal operations, interventions to control the spread of the pandemic Influenza A and HINI among their staffs, families and the immediate community they work in. He mentioned the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Water Company Limited as some of the selected institutions to benefit from the programme. The NADMO Regional Coordinator entreated the institutions to take up the challenge and put measures in place to support government to contain future outbreaks and also to maintain their operational capacities to provide essential services to the general public and avoid social=96economi= c disruption. Dr Emmanuel K. Tinkorang, Acting Regional Director of Health Services, urged all to join the national crusade to raise awareness and preparedness to mitigate the consequences of pandemic influenza outbreak.