Ebola - Screening at ports still ongoing – GHS

Source: citifmonline.com  -  The Ghana health Service has dismissed claims that it has relaxed the Ebola preparedness measures at the various ports.

The port health authority in 2014 put in place stringent measures at the various entry and exit points to screen foreign nationals due to Ghana’s proximity to the countries worst affected by the deadly disease.

But recent complains about apparent laxity on the side of the port health authorities have raised concerns about the nation’s state of preparedness in case of an outbreak of the hemorrhagic disease.

But speaking in an interview with Citi News, the deputy director of the Ghana health Service in charge of disease surveillance, Dr. Badu Sarkodie insisted that the health service has rather improved on the technology for the screening, hence their stance.

There are things that you do that people will see clearly or vividly. Formerly when we were using non-touch thermometers, we point it to your forehead and everybody sees that you have been screened. But now the Ministry has gone further ahead and we are using walk-through thermometers. So we may even scan and screen you but you will not see,” he said.

Dr. Badu Sarkodie further added that they have such walk through thermometers at the various entry and exits points in the country.

At the Kotoka International Airport, Dr. Sarkodie said they have about 10 of such devices installed at strategic locations.

This he said is part of “efforts not to impede on traffic at the airports.”

“Aflao and Elubo, all have these walk-through thermometers. So you go through, we take your temperatures and you will not know. Nationals from Ebola affected areas and other areas that we have mapped out are required to fill forms.”