Ghana Strengthens Airport Health Surveillance with New Support
Ghana is stepping up health surveillance and emergency preparedness at the country’s Points of Entry with new equipment and supplies to support screening, infection prevention, and early detection of public health threats.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), through its Port Health Department, has received Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other essential items from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The supplies were handed over at a ceremony at Accra International Airport (AIA) and are expected to strengthen the capacity of Port Health officials to carry out traveller screening, disease surveillance, data collection, risk communication, infection prevention and control, and emergency response.
The items include PPEs, face masks, hand sanitisers, gloves, detergents, pull-up banners, digital tablets and tablet stands.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Mission of IOM, Ms Onyekachi Madubuko commended the Ghana Health Service for its leadership in protecting public health and described the handover as a reflection of the strong partnership between IOM, GAC and the Government of Ghana.
She said the Accra International Airport remained a strategic Point of Entry, making effective preparedness and response essential to keeping Ghana connected to the rest of the world while managing potential public health risks.
The Head of Cooperation at the Canadian High Commission, Ms Francoise Nduwimana, said strengthening preparedness at Points of Entry was important not only to Ghana’s health security but also to regional and global efforts to prevent and contain disease outbreaks.
She expressed confidence that the equipment and supplies would enable Port Health officials to carry out their responsibilities more effectively, strengthen outbreak preparedness, and contribute to building more resilient communities.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Director of Public Health, Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, the Deputy Director of the Port Health Department, Dr Alphonsus C. Nindow, expressed appreciation to IOM and Global Affairs Canada for the support.
He stressed that health screening and surveillance at Points of Entry remained critical to protecting the country, particularly at a time when the world continues to face emerging and re-emerging disease threats.
Dr Nindow assured the partners that the items would be put to appropriate use to improve the work of Port Health officials, particularly in the areas of surveillance and data management at the Accra International Airport.
He also commended Port Health personnel for their continued dedication to protecting travellers and the wider public.
The handover forms part of an IOM-implemented project, “Enhancing Cross-Border Public Health Preparedness and Response to Flood-Related Health Risks,” funded by Global Affairs Canada.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
