By Richard Attenkah
In its bid to prevent and contain a possible outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has formed a 24-member Ebola Committee.
Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Mayor, in his inaugural speech, said there was the need to formalise the contributions from stakeholders in this direction, and create responsibilities for each of them. He said the Committee was to augment the efforts of the Health Directorate in educating and creating the needed awareness on the Ebola Virus Disease within the Metropolis.
Isaac Odamtten admonished the members to be proactive and prompt enough and not wait for things to happen, but put in place appropriate strategies to help achieve the Assembly’s targets. He tasked the members to “think national by looking at the broader picture, which goes beyond Greater Accra.”
He charged all the members to take all the Committee’s activities seriously, and see themselves as ambassadors in their organisations and localities.
Briefing the media, the Tema Metropolitan Health Director and Chairman of the Committee, Dr. John Yabani, said the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in parts of West Africa last year, which claimed over 8,000 lives and affected over 20,000 individuals, and resulted in loss of families and businesses, has led to this formation.
He further stated that the strategic location of Tema, with a coastal stretch which welcomes people from various countries around the world, he deemed it appropriate to formulate a committee which will put in place appropriate plans on how to avert or prevent this virus from entering and gaining roots in the Metropolis.
Dr. Yabani said the Committee is authorised to ensure a rapid response, which is to work 24 hours a day, in case of any reported case in the Metropolis, in addition to putting in place Case Management Protocols, and gave the assurance that its members would undergo a day’s training to put them in readiness for the task ahead.
He added that the Committee mandates its members to ensure that the Tema Metropolis was well mobilised, educated on health issues, as well as communicate risks to residents and ensure surveillance, as well as put in place measures to ensure that anybody using the various entry points in the Metropolis is screened.