First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has directed the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to take immediate action to control the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM).
CSM has so far claimed 14 lives in the Upper West Region alone with 60 recorded cases and a very high case fatality rate of 23.33%.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, February 6, MP for Daffiama Bussie Issa, Dr Sebastian Sandare, called for swift intervention.
“This calls for urgent, enhanced disease control measures. Mr Speaker, I appeal to the government, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and other stakeholders to mobilize technical, financial, and logistical support immediately to help control and prevent the outbreak,” he urged.
Dr Sandare emphasised the need for cross-border collaboration to curb the spread and proposed the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Fund to ensure sustained funding for current and future outbreaks.
Contributing to the debate, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh criticised the health authorities for their slow response.
He insisted that the GHS be summoned to Parliament to provide answers.
“We don’t have the Minister of Health sworn in, but we have the Ghana Health Service. We can’t always blame politicians. Public health officials, who are paid with taxpayers’ money, must be held accountable,” he said.
He questioned whether the outbreak resulted from a vaccine shortage or negligence, warning that failure to act promptly would worsen the crisis.
“There must be a way that the Ghana Health Service should come and explain to us, is it the case that we are lacking vaccines. Is it the case that they never knew about this? They are sleeping on the job. What is happening? They must come and give us some reasons,” he said.
He added, “We can’t be allowing such basic ailment to be taking lives so necessarily the Ghana Health Service must go to the aid of the poor people in the Upper West, otherwise the matter will get out of hand.”
In response, the First Deputy Speaker, presiding in the Speaker’s absence, directed the Ministry of Health to take immediate remedial action.
“The Ministry of Health must create awareness, conduct contact tracing, intensify medical care for affected victims, and consider establishing a Public Health Emergency Fund to handle outbreaks. I so direct,” he ordered.
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