HEALTH

Ghana, 3 other countries prepare to combat potential infectious disease
Following the deadly Ebola virus that affected many African countries, Ghana and three other countries have resolved to prepare themselves in readiness to combat any future outbreak of infectious disease.

Date Created : 1/11/2019 8:02:23 AM : Story Author : Christian Kpesese/Ghanadistricts.com

As a result, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is organising a training program for healthcare professionals from four selected West African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The 8 weeks training is dubbed "Third Country Training Course on Enhancing Laboratory Skills for Infectious Diseases in West African countries for post Ebola".

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the eight week training course, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Prof Ayeh-Kumi advocated an all hands on deck approach from all African countries in order to get meaningful diagnoses of infectious disease which is an important element in the healthcare delivery system.

Commending the Japanese government through JICA for the collaboration in rolling out the responsibilities of the Noguchi Memorial Institute, the Provost challenged participants to share ideas in order to come up with useful solutions for the benefit of their respective countries.

Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute, Prof Abraham Kwabena Annan acknowledged the urgent need for cooperation in order to improve healthcare systems to ensure prevention and effective management of infectious diseases even as the right skills are impacted to health professionals.



“One of the most important priorities of international cooperation based on human security is the improvement of the healthcare systems, to ensure prevention and management of various live-threatening infections.

Securing sufficient and effective healthcare systems, there is an urgent need for the development of specialists in biomedical laboratory technology. And that is what we are trying to build at the Nuguchi Memorial Institute with the support of the Japanese Government”, he stated.

According to the Director the course has been designed to provide an intensive and detailed training in modern technology to help equip participating laboratory technicians in the sub-region with adequate skills for the diagnosis of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses.

Participants are expected to learn new and best skills in laboratory practices and latest innovations bacteriology, parasitology and virology.



Prof Annan noted that the future of the world has so many unknown because biology and life is so many dynamics hence the relevance of the course.

A senior representative of JICA, Maki Ozawa also urged the need for stakeholders to strengthen their preparedness in combat readiness for any eventuality.

She assured of JICA’s commitment in ensuring that the sub-region is combat ready against any infectious disease.
Ms Ozawa expressed the hope that the training will not only equip participants but create great opportunity for network for further collaboration.

A representative of the Japanese Embassy commended Ghana for making progress in the Universal Health Coverage.