Afrigather Accra, Ghana – The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the significance of communities as foundational bedrock for coping with public well being emergencies. International locations have to commonly assess their operational readiness of preparedness actions, particularly on the neighborhood degree to detect and reply to outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic potential extra successfully.
In Ghana, a 3 (3) day neighborhood readiness simulation train, co-organized by the Ministry of Well being, Ghana, the World Well being Group, and the UK Public Well being Fast Assist Workforce (UK-PHRST), an progressive partnership between the UK Well being Safety Company and the London Faculty of Hygiene & Tropical Drugs (LSHTM), introduced collectively stakeholders from well being, native authorities, catastrophe administration, animal and setting sectors, drawn from the Japanese area of Ghana to check communities’ preparedness and emergency procedures and response plans.
In his opening remarks, the WHO Consultant to Ghana, Prof. Francis Kasolo underscored the function of communities within the prevention, preparedness, and response to any sort of emergency, whatever the hazard. He, due to this fact emphasised the necessity to strengthen and drive assets in communities in direction of efficient outbreaks response.
“We should be certain that the capacities and assets are in place on the neighborhood degree for early detection and containment of well being emergencies,” Prof. Francis Kasolo said.
The neighborhood readiness simulation train was geared toward enabling stakeholders to determine strengths, gaps and mirror on priorities that can assist strengthens communities’ readiness, working with the well being workforce to detect, notify and reply to public well being threats earlier than they escalate.
On her half, Dr Claire Bayntun, UK-PHRST Head of Capability Strengthening mentioned, “We’re delighted to be a part of this thrilling collaboration between the World Well being Group, the Ministry of Well being in Ghana and different companions. Now we have contributed our technical experience to this tabletop simulation train which can finally assist native communities be higher ready for outbreaks sooner or later.
The result of this train won’t solely profit Ghana – the learnings can even be related for the general public well being responses for communities in lots of different international locations.”
Talking on behalf of the Director Normal of the Ghana Well being Service, Dr. Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe, reiterated the necessity to leverage neighborhood assets and experience to mitigate potential well being dangers.
“Communities self-¬ mobilize in response to disaster and contribute vital experience and data about what works on the native degree. Partnering with affected communities earlier than and through an emergency can leverage these strengths, to higher defend lives and livelihoods throughout a well being emergency” mentioned Dr. Aseidu-Bekoe, Director of Public Well being
Stakeholders on the three-day tabletop train emphasised the necessity for sustained neighborhood involvement to make sure knowledgeable, engaged, and empowered communities throughout, earlier than and after well being emergencies.
“We have to frequently interact and supply key neighborhood actors with the required data, so they assist well being actors tackle emergencies in a well timed method mentioned”, Genevieve Dakurah, a midwife-Incharge, Kweakese CHPS, Akwaku Afram Plains North district.
The train, the primary to be carried out in Ghana introduced collectively 65 individuals from three (3) communities throughout two districts within the Japanese Area. Individuals have been taken via a sequence of eventualities designed to evaluate neighborhood readiness to attainable well being outbreaks. The result will present helpful data to tell the WHO Group Readiness Guidelines, together with transferable classes for different communities and international locations.
