The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has raised concerns about the country’s response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, attributing delays in detection and treatment to the public's perception of the disease as a minor health issue.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at GHS, emphasized during an interview on September 29 that while the country is not losing the battle against Mpox, the widespread underestimation of the disease is significantly slowing efforts to contain it.
“Because the perception is that it is just a minor illness, people are reluctant to report new cases, especially since it has not caused significant mortality,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe explained.
He noted that although global health authorities are beginning to treat Mpox as an endemic condition, effective local response still depends heavily on public cooperation and timely reporting.
To address the issue, the GHS is urging the public to seek medical attention at the earliest signs of symptoms and report suspected cases promptly to health facilities.
In a positive development, the country’s capacity for Mpox testing has greatly improved. In the past, samples had to be transported to central laboratories in Accra or Kumasi, which caused significant delays in confirmation.
“Now, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), rapid test kits are available in high-risk areas,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe said. “We are using cartridge-based testing systems, which enable faster confirmation without the need for long-distance sample transport.”
Health officials continue to stress the importance of taking Mpox seriously and are calling on the public to help prevent further spread by recognizing symptoms early and reporting them to health professionals.
Source: The Ghana Report
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