The Ministry of Health has cautioned the public following the detection of a circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in an environmental sample from Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
The sample was detected by the Polio Laboratory at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), which serves as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Polio Laboratory. The laboratory conducts routine surveillance for polio in Ghana.
In a statement issued and signed by the Minister of Health Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, on September 16, 2024, revealed that the sample was collected on August 20, 2024, where initial testing on September 3 indicated the presence of poliovirus, which was later confirmed as cVDPV2 on September 5, 2024.
According to the statement, “the Ghana Health Service has initiated several measures to address the situation, including field investigations to trace the source of the infection, assess its geographical spread, evaluate the risk of further transmission to humans, enhance surveillance, and improve public communication.”
The Minister of Health, Dr. Okoh Boye has urged the public to practise better personal hygiene and maintain good sanitation to reduce the risk of transmission.
“We wish to assure the public that the Ministry of Health, together with its partners, is doing everything possible to prevent the further spread of the virus from the environment to humans,”.
Read full statement below;
PRESS RELEASE
DETECTION OF POLIOVIRUS TYPE-2 FROM THE KOFORIDUA ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEILLANCE SITE IN EASTERN REGION OF GHANA, SEPTEMBER 2024
The Polio Laboratory of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) which serves as the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Polio Laboratory, through routine surveillance activities on polio, has detected circulating Vaceine Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) from environmental sample in the Koforidua site in Easter Region. The sample was collected on 20* August 2024.
The isolation result was obtained on 3m September 2024 as suspected polio and subsequently confirmed as cVDPV2 on 5* September 2024. This detection of environmental polio constitutes a Public Health Emergency.
In response to this, the Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service, together with partners, have initiated the following actions that are ongoing:
Detail field investigation to identify possible source of infection
- Determination of the extent of geographic spread
- Risk assessment and potential for further spread, including transmission to humans : Surviley, ohnition and Social Mobilization
As part of measures to prevent further spread and protect against spread to humans, the public is encouraged to observe improved personal hygiene and good sanitation practices, including:
- Wash hands often with soap under safe running water.
After using any toilet facility
- Before preparing undor hand line fond : Before serving elore feeding your baty
- After playing (especially for children)
- Use toilet facility or bury facces
- Do not defecate in the open
- Cican toilet and surfaces contaminated with faeces with disinfectant
- Parents/caregivers of infants are encouraged to complete the instituted vaccination schedule to protect their wards
We wish to assure the public that the Ministry of Health together with its partners is doing everything possible to prevent the further spread of the virus from the environent to humans.
[09:22, 18/09/2024] Madam FATI: We have herbal units in public hospitals in Ghana- Minister of Health reveals
Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has disclosed that Ghana has some good experts in the field of herbal medicine in public hospitals across the country.
He made this statement during the Minister’s Press Briefing at the Ministry of Information on Wednesday September 18, 2024.
Sharing some objectives of the health sector at the press briefing he revealed that, a lot of people don’t know that there are herbal units in public hospitals in the country.
He debunked the claim that herbal medicine was dangerous emphasizing that some are safe for consumption as they have gone through the necessary medical procedures.
“Interestingly, a lot of people don’t know we have herbal units in the public institutions. It’s not all herbal medicine or practice that is dangerous. We have well trained herbal practitioners in our hospitals who dispense medicines that have been tested in our labs and are safe for consumption” he stated.
The Minister added that the ministry is currently working on a medicine list that will be covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and are hopeful that herbal medicines will soon be included in the list of medicines that the insurance pays for.
“When I was with the NHIS, we worked with the ministry to include at least some major ones on the list. It is going through the process, and very soon, government will pay for herbal medicines as well. That is very, very important” he noted.
Dr. Okoe Boye believes, by doing this, the ministry has some procedures for assessing safety and efficacy of herbalists and it is also one of the objectives to ensure safety and efficacy of the herbal medicines.