The vice chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has stated that the government should call for a proactive approach in dealing with the outbreak of H1N1 influenza at Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA) that has claimed lives of some students and the outbreak of meningitis.
He is calling on the government to have a national disaster response in tackling this issue.
He stated that the government should set up a task force that will tackle the issue head on.
“We keep tackling the issue in a way that will not completely eradicate the outbreak, there are lives at state, I believe if we shut down schools and treat this issue as a national disaster, it will be give it all the seriousness it deserve”, He stated.
He made this statement on Ahotor FM’s morning show on Thursday 14th December.
Speaking to Emmanuel Quashie, Ofosu- Ampofo called on the government, the ministry of health and education to intensify the approach in tackling the outbreak.
The leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has also expressed concern about the reports of bacterial meningitis at the Koforidua Secondary Technical School.
The Society has also noted the swift response by the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to contain the spread of the infections through appropriate preventive and treatment initiatives.
A statement signed by Mr. Benjamin Botwe, the President of the PSGH has therefore, urged pharmacists in Community Practice to be on the look-out for flu-like signs and symptoms that would help in early detection by prompt referral of any suspected H1N1 infection.
The statement said the H1N1 Influenza, which is also known as swine flu, is a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses.
It said the H1N1 virus could be transmitted to humans via contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with the virus.
Daniel Koranteng Kwagyiri|ahotoronline.com|Ghana
