Ghana News

Ghana joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2014 World Health Day (WHD) at the forecourt of the Ghana Health Service Headquarters in Accra. The focus this year was on Vector Borne Diseases (VBD) which includes Malaria, Lymphatic filariasis (which can cause Elephantiasis) and Yellow Fever. Highlighting the serious and increasing threat these diseases pose to global health and the need to protect ourselves from the vectors such as the mosquitoes which play a key role in the transmission of VBD, the slogan for the campaign was “small bite, big threat”.

Accra, 01 December, 2015 - Dr Owen Laws Kaluwa, on Tuesday 01 December, 2015, presented his credentials to the Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Hannah Tetteh to officially assume office as the World Health Organization Representative (WR) to Ghana.

The WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Magda Robalo, has commended Ghana for the continuous efforts to keep immunization coverage quite high and the burden of vaccine preventable diseases very low. She said Ghana stands tall for the country’s efforts to date, and the leadership in the introduction of vaccines against the major childhood killer diseases in the sub-region.

A three-day workshop was organized from 28-30 April 2014 for eight Anglophone countries in Accra, Ghana, brought together five participants each from Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya and Uganda. The participants were drawn from national EPI, National Regulatory Authority, Pharmacovigilance centres, and WHO national Focal Persons for EPI and Essential Medicines and Health Products. The workshop was facilitated and technical support provided by WHO HQ, WHO AFRO and WHO IST/ESA.   

Accra, 04 February2016 – In response to the ongoing meningitis outbreak in Ghana, WHO has supported the Ministry of Health with rapid diagnostic testing kits (Pastorex), other laboratory reagents and technical support community and facility surveillance, sensitization and case management. 

29 JUNE 2007 | ACCRA -- A mission of Consultants from WHO Africa Region (AFRO) and Headquarters is in the country to make official contacts with the Ministry of Health including the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Health Service for their full information and update on the Meningitis Vaccine Project.

Strengthening presence in countries for strategic support to effective national health systems and service - EPI component

Rationale and justification

Major challenges:

• Sustain the reduction in morbidity and mortality of vaccine preventable diseases
• Stagnating immunization coverage for vaccine preventable diseases
• Poor access to, and quality of immunization and surveillance activities in priority districts and sub-districts.

Vision of country office:

The WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka has presented a Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Samuel K. Hagan for being adjudged the Best Worker for 2006. Dr. Saweka made the presentation at a WCO staff new year lunch promoted by the Staff Association on Friday 1, February 2008. The day will go into the annals of the WHO Country Office as a memorable one since it is the first time a staff has been honored for meritorious service to the Organization.

The WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka has emphasized that Traditional leaders, especially Chiefs and their Elders have a major responsibility as partners in the dissemination of health information in their communities. Dr. Saweka said the position of chiefs in the traditional set up in Ghana, as he has observed, makes Chiefs potential instruments for effective dissemination of important health information among the rural folks majority of whom do not have access to health information through modern technology.