The organisation said while outbreaks could not be prevented, they can be effectively managed if the nation was well prepared.

Speaking at a National Dialogue on Public Health Emergency Financing in Ghana, Madam Harriet Nuamah Agyemang, Country Director, SEND Ghana, said preparing for epidemics required investment in health worker training, surveillance and infrastructure with a focus on mobilising domestic resources rather than relying on global funds.

"This year, we are looking forward to a budget that includes funding for Public Health Emergencies in Ghana, we anticipate that the government will prioritise this to safeguard the health of the people," she said.

Madam Agyemang cited the lack of a dedicated fund for preparedness and specific budget line for epidemic preparedness and response as issues which needed the urgent attention of the government.

"Epidermic preparedness is important, and we need funding to do that, we must not depend on global funding anymore, we need to look inward, mobilise funds from our domestic resources and set it aside for epidemics," she stressed.

Madam Agyemang encouraged Local Government Authorities to also set aside funds for Public Health Emergencies at the District and Municipal level.

She commended the Adaklu and Aligye Kwabre districts for including Epidermic Preparedness Response in their 2023 to 2024 budgets for the first time and recognised several assemblies like the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Keta North, Birim South for consistently increasing funding for emergency preparedness and response.

Madam Agyemang mentioned that four districts; Lower Manya Krobo, Birim South, Lambussie and Gushegu, were at various stages of setting up district public health emergency fund.

Mr Rex Manu Yeboah, Deputy Director, General Administration at the Ministry of Local Government encouraged Local Government Authorities to find innovative ways to finance Epidermic Preparedness and Response, stating that it was more cost effective to prevent an epidemic than to respond when it had escalated.

The Dialogue served as a platform to assess progress made in Send Ghana's efforts in advocating the provision of a Domestic Fund for Public Health Emergencies in Ghana highlighting it as a vital step to ensuring that Ghana is well equipped to manage future crisis.

By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey / Dorcas Stephens