Construction works on proposed isolation centres in Tema, Kumasi and Tamale for Ebola suspected cases are progressing steadily.
Joy News’ Francis Abban who visited the Tema General Hospital said construction workers were feverishly putting things together to meet the October 8 deadline.
He indicated that the structure, which could house up to 12 patients, is 80 percent complete.
The hospital is one of three infirmaries designated to cater for suspected Ebola cases in the country, should there be an outbreak of the disease.
It is expected to manage suspected cases in the Southern sector.
Work is ongoing on two other sites in Kumasi and Tamale to handle cases in the middle and northern zones respectively.
Upon completion, the three national isolation centres are expected to be fitted with technical and personal protective equipments (PPEs) to deal with the situation in the instance of an outbreak.
Construction of the centres forms part of the government’s contingency plans to combat the epidemic.
President John Mahama recently announced the release of GH6 million to boost the country's Ebola preparedness. Part of that money would be used in procuring 10,000 additional PPEs.
Some Sierra Leonean and Guinean nationals entering Ghana through the Burkina Faso border were turned away for failing to produce health certificates covering Ebola screening.
Three thousand cases and 1,500 deaths have been reported in five West African countries - Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal.
The World Health Organization has predicted there would be 20,000 more cases in the next six months before it is brought under control.
Mr. Francis Nyamekye had told Joy News’ Upper East Regional correspondent, Albert Sore that health officials at the border feared the travellers may be carrying the disease into Ghana.
He noted the unit did not have the thermo-flash used to better detect signs of the Ebola virus and, therefore, the travellers were turned away.
“Once they had not been screened and without an Ebola screening certificate, they were made to return to their countries.”
Myjoyonline.com
