Fast-spreading misinformation online is hard to measure, but the 10 organizations and 10 African fact-checking groups that make up the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance are working to track and debunk dangerous myths on the pandemic and COVID-19 vaccines.
Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been hailed as exemplary for its planning, speed and high-level leadership, but dig a little deeper and there are yet more crucial lessons in working with far-flung communities and building up trust in the vaccines.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, H E Gunner Andreas Holm has reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring that other essential health services continue as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers on. He said this when he paid a courtesy call on WHO Country Representative, Dr Francis Kasolo at his office as part of his end of duty tour of Ghana.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr Kwabena Oko-Afari has described as an interesting coincidence, the number of hospitals requesting Patient Monitors from the Ministry in recent times, and WHO’s timely intervention.
Ghana embarked on intense actions to contain the coronavirus outbreak since the first two cases were confirmed on 12 March 2020. Public health measures such as mandatory wearing of facemasks in public places, social distancing, and hand hygiene were instituted to curtail the spread of the virus. For optimal care of those infected with coronavirus, various guidelines were adapted and isolation/treatment facilities were quickly identified and equipped to receive and manage suspected and confirmed cases.
The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has lauded an initiative to mobilize community support in promoting good nutrition and called on all to help intensify efforts to promote six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
She made this call at the opening session of the Nutrition Advocacy and Community Mobilization Initiative, a forum to engage esteemed traditional and religious leaders to promote nutrition interventions for women and children in Ghana.
Ghanaians have been called to develop the culture of voluntary blood donation to guarantee timely access to safe blood and blood products and help save lives. The Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu made this call at an event to mark World Blood Donor Day in Accra under the theme: ‘Give blood and keep the world beating’.
On 7 June 2021, Ghana joined the rest of the world in commemorating 2021 World Food Safety Day which aims to draw attention to food borne risks and encourage the practice of food safety standards to help prevent, detect and manage food borne diseases. The day was celebrated in Accra under the theme: ‘Safe Food Now for a Healthy Tomorrow’.
Africa has the highest global mortality rate among critically ill COVID-19 patients despite having the world’s lowest COVID-19 infections and deaths overall, a recent study published by the Lancet found. Shortage of critical care resources and their underuse are some of the contributing factors. Dr Christian Owoo, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anaesthesia, University of Ghana Medical School and a Consultant Anaesthetist/Intensivist and Head of Intensive Care Unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, discusses ways to prevent severe COVID-19 illness and avert a surge in deaths.
