Future NDC will ensure a National Infectious Disease Response Plan – Mahama

Former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has reignited the conversation for the West African country to secure a National Infectious Disease Response Plan to deal with future pandemics.

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Addressing his fellow countrymen and women in an Easter season greetings, Mahama seized the opportunity to discuss his plans for the country should he be elected into office again.

“I have previously stated that given the opportunity, I will ensure that we establish another medical research centre with capacity like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) in the Northern part of Ghana as part of the Response Plan,” he noted in a statement on Sunday, as the nation begins the extension of a partial lockdown in parts of the country.

Under the plan, he suggested that it will be meaningful to double the bed capacity of the 37 military hospital and build an Infectious Diseases Centre there to cater for the Southern sector in order to help manage infections like Ebola and COVID-19.

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Mahama also wished well, the eight (8) families who lost their beloved ones during to the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.

“So far, Ghana has confirmed 408 people as having been infected with the virus. Out of this number, four (4) have recovered and eight (8) dead. I pray for God’s mighty healing on the sick, including our compatriot Ambassador Papa Owusu Ankomah, and consolation for the families of the deceased.”

“I also wish to extend my condolences to the family of Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule, the Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the entire medical fraternity for his untimely death after he was infected by the COVID-19 virus. Plange-Rhule exuded humility. He was a medical luminary, affable, warm and knowledgeable. His death, and that of other health workers, is an irreplaceable loss.”

He again called for government’s support for health workers in the country saying:

“I wish to reiterate my call for government to provide adequate PPEs to health workers, ensure testing of as many people as possible for the COVID-19 virus as we stay home during the extended lockdown period, observing social distancing protocols and washing our hands with soap under running water, regularly.”

“A Happy Easter to all of us. It is my prayer that this Season will offer our dear nation God’s unfailing Mercy and Grace to overcome the surge of our present pain.”

“Together We Will Win the Fight Against Coronavirus!”