Despite the low number of COVID-19 infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning countries not to let their guard down.
An important step towards the end of the epidemic that has killed more than 6.9 million people, devastated the global economy, and decimated communities was made on May 5 when WHO declared COVID-19 to no longer be a global health emergency.
The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee convened on May 4 and made a recommendation to the UN organisation to call an end to the more than three-year-old public health emergency of worldwide significance.
According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, nations should continue to implement their COVID-19 programmes.
“This virus is still causing death and is constantly evolving. A new variety still carries a small risk of arising. The worst thing any nation could now do is use this information as an excuse to lower its defences and topple the structure it has already put in place. Or to convey to its citizens that COVID-19 is nothing to be concerned about. According to the article, countries must switch from an emergency response to managing COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus cautioned.
The Government of Ghana says the country will not let its guard down despite the World Health Organization’s declaration of an end to the COVID-19 global health emergency.
Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare said government will continue to prioritize the health and safety of citizens in the management of the virus.
“We will manage it like any other disease. All that the WHO is saying is that, not that COVID-19 is completely gone, so we should be able to manage it as a country. For some months now we have not seen any COVID-19-related deaths and our ICUs have not been over-stressed with hospitalization. But we have to continue with the sensitization so that we don’t lose sight of what is happening. It should become part and parcel of us”, he said on Eyewitness News.
The Presidential Advisor on Health says government will continue with its routine surveillance until the pandemic is eradicated.
“We are trying to return life to normal as if there is no COVID-19. So we will sustain the national capacity so that we do not have to fight any major pandemic in the country. There will be more vaccines for the unvaccinated and continue with surveillance. So we will not lose sight of it and make sure the system in Ghana continues. So we are not going to stop with COVID-19 but put all these measures in place until the pandemic is formally declared over. We will be on the lookout.”
