The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Pius Mensah, has confirmed that three emergency Mpox patients are currently under management in the metropolis, with three frontline health workers also infected and receiving treatment.
At a media briefing on September 18, Dr. Mensah disclosed that the metropolis has so far recorded 70 confirmed cases of the viral disease, with 184 more suspected cases spread across 15 communities — many of them along the coast.
What alarms health officials is the unrelenting rise in infections despite weeks of outreach, education campaigns, and risk-mitigation messages.
“We will continue to appeal to the public to avoid behaviours that expose them to contracting or spreading the virus,” Dr. Mensah said, stressing that community vigilance and adherence to basic preventive guidelines remain Sekondi – Takoradi’s strongest shield.
He urged the media to partner health authorities in intensifying education, particularly in high-risk communities.
WHO Support
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has received a joint mission team from the World Health Organization (WHO), where she provided updates on the Western Region’s Mpox response. She highlighted key interventions, including monitoring and tracking cases to identify trends and patterns.
Mpox—formerly known as monkeypox—is a viral disease that affects both humans and animals. “The Mpox situation in Ghana’s Western Region is quite concerning, with the region accounting for 71% of the country’s confirmed cases,” she disclosed.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah noted that the Ghana Health Service, together with the Western Regional Health Directorate, is intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak through enhanced surveillance, public sensitization, vaccination plans, and other measures.
“These efforts align with President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to improving healthcare in Ghana. The situation is being closely monitored, with authorities working to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and response capabilities,” she added.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with WHO, has developed a joint continental response plan to guide these interventions. The plan focuses on controlling outbreaks, expanding vaccination coverage, and transitioning towards sustainable long-term response strategies.
