In the wake of a national health alert on the resurgence of COVID-19 and Mpox, Mr. Matthew Adams Ayamba, Adaklu District Health Director, has sounded the alarm on the need for heightened personal hygiene and community education to prevent a local outbreak.
Speaking during the commissioning of a newly built three-unit nurses’ quarters at Adaklu Wumenu, Mr. Ayamba stressed the importance of proactive health practices. “With the resurfacing of COVID-19 and confirmed Mpox cases across the country, our best defense remains basic hygiene and early response,” he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.
While reassuring residents that suspected Mpox samples from the district had tested negative, Mr. Ayamba noted that the risk remains real and must not be taken lightly. He encouraged residents to return to preventive practices such as wearing nose masks, frequent handwashing, and adherence to other COVID-19 protocols, which had previously helped curb virus spread.
Community Engagement as First Line of Defense
Mr. Ayamba called on assembly members, chiefs, religious leaders, and heads of community groups to take active roles in educating the public about the resurgence of the two diseases. “Education is a powerful tool in disease prevention. We need our leaders to use every gathering—be it religious services, market days, or community meetings—to spread the message of vigilance and hygiene,” he urged.
He also outlined symptoms of Mpox, including fever, rash, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes, and urged anyone experiencing such symptoms to seek immediate care at a health facility.
Infrastructure Boost to Healthcare Delivery
The commissioning of the nurses’ quarters, estimated at GHC670,000 and funded by the Roads and Highways Minister, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, through his MP’s Common Fund and other sources, marks a significant boost to healthcare delivery in the Adaklu District. The new facility is expected to improve the accommodation and welfare of frontline health workers, enhancing their capacity to respond to emerging public health threats.
As of June this year, Ghana had recorded 79 Mpox cases across 10 regions and 107 new COVID-19 cases at the University of Ghana alone—a development Mr. Ayamba said should not be ignored.
The Adaklu District Health Directorate is coordinating closely with all health facilities in the area to implement preventive measures and prepare for potential cases, with a firm commitment to safeguarding community health.
