There is a growing concern of a likelihood that the country is losing the fight against the Mpox disease outbreak, thus requiring re -strategizing of efforts.
But the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service Dr. Fraklyn Asiedu – Bekoe disagrees. He explained that the global response is shifting towards managing Mpox as an endemic condition rather than a temporary outbreak, noting that the perception that Mpox is a minor illness has been a barrier to effective management and reporting.
He spoke exclusively to 3news on September 29.
“… because the perception that is just a minor illness, they are reluctant to just report another case, because it was not causing any mortalities.’’ He noted.
Dr Asiedu further noted that testing capacity has improved from sending samples to either Kumasi or other labs that delays results, to having to do the samples at the disease hot spot areas.
“With support from WHO, now we are going to test the samples by using the cartridges. So now the ease of confirmation has improved, so we don’t need to now pick a sample and transport all the way to Accra, so that has been the add on.’’ He further noted.
The general public is entreated to report any symptoms to the nearest hospital.
