Ebola outbreak: Better to prepare well than to feel sorry later — Dr Agyemang

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has raised concerns about Ghana’s preparedness to contain a possible Ebola outbreak, warning that inadequate border health surveillance and limited public education could leave the country vulnerable.

He says the country should be doing more to strengthen its health systems and prepare communities, particularly along major entry points, as concerns grow over the spread of Ebola in parts of Africa.

Dr Agyemang, a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, said Ghana’s extensive trade and travel links with Nigeria made the threat one that could not be treated lightly.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, October 26, he questioned the level of preparedness since he first raised concerns about the issue earlier in the year.

"We have to prepare well rather than to be very sorry about this whole thing," he stated.

“Preparing for a cross-border infection is something that we all have to be very much concerned about. From where I sit, as I hinted on your network somewhere in March this year, our preparedness towards the Ebola issue has not been that rigorous, and I expect to see more. You should be worried, because you see there's a lot of cross-border trade between Ghana and Nigeria".

Dr Agyemang said the movement of people and goods between Ghana and Nigeria, including commercial transport and haulage operations, required stronger surveillance and a coordinated public health response.

He warned that frequent travel between the two countries could create opportunities for an infectious disease to cross borders, making early detection and prompt intervention critical.

“We have a lot of Ghanaians that go to Nigeria every now and then. There's a huge haulage of transactional trade between Ghana and Nigeria, and it means that we have to be on the lookout for it, and we have to prepare adequately towards that, but from what I see, I do not see that being done properly.”

The MP said Ghana should have been better positioned to respond to emerging infectious disease threats, drawing lessons from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We should have been very much ahead of the game, given the ravaging effect that the COVID-19 had on our healthcare. We have a lot of learning to have learned from.”

He argued that the experience of COVID-19 should have prompted sustained investment in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and the capacity of health facilities to respond to outbreaks.

Dr Agyemang also expressed concern about what he described as inadequate strengthening of health systems at key land entry points.

He cited Aflao, Akanu, Paga, Nkwanta and Hamile among the locations where he believed greater attention was needed to improve the country's readiness to detect and respond to a possible cross-border infection.

“This cross-border infection, I mean, if you look at our land travel, I do not see it. For instance, if you take a place like Aflao, Akanu, Paga, Nkwanta, Hamile, and others, I do not see much strengthening of the healthcare system.”

He repeated his concern about the lack of visible improvements in preparedness at the borders, saying the country needed to ensure that its health facilities and surveillance arrangements could respond effectively to a potential outbreak.

“I do not see much strengthening of the healthcare system.”

His concerns highlight the importance of disease surveillance at land borders, where health authorities need to identify suspected cases quickly, assess travellers when indicated and ensure that referral and response systems are in place.

However, the MP's assessment was based on his observations. An official assessment from the relevant health authorities would be needed to establish the current level of preparedness at the named entry points.

Beyond border surveillance and health infrastructure, Dr Agyemang questioned the apparent lack of public education on Ebola, arguing that people needed clear information on the disease and how to respond to a possible threat.

He challenged media organisations and health authorities to intensify awareness campaigns, saying public communication should form part of the country's preparedness strategy.

“I believe that your network is among the 1% networks in Ghana. Have you played any commercial or any health promotion on Ebola? Have you seen anything run? Not yet. All the municipal and district health directories, there does not seem to be any activation or promotion of Ebola.”

He said the apparent absence of sustained public education was worrying, given the potential consequences of an outbreak and the importance of helping people recognise symptoms, seek medical care promptly and follow public health guidance.

“There has not been much promotion, and it is very concerning. If the whole multimedia has not played a commercial that seeks to promote Ebola or how we should behave, then it is really troubling.”

Dr Agyemang's remarks place the spotlight on the need for timely, accurate public information alongside preparedness measures at ports of entry and health facilities.

Public education on Ebola should be based on guidance from health authorities, with clear information on symptoms, transmission, when to seek medical attention and how suspected cases should be managed.