This came as a result of a further directive by the Upper East Regional Minister for all Municipal and District Security Councils in the region to meet with major stakeholders to discuss and implement the directives. 

In attendance were members of the Municipal Security Council, Paramount chiefs, and representatives of the Catholic Church, Local Council of Churches, the Muslim community and political parties. 

Others were the Regional and District Directors of the Ghana health service, the Municipal director of education, heads of second cycle institutions and the media among others.

Mr William Aduum, the Kassena Nankana Municipal Chief Executive, said the purpose of the meeting was to engage the stakeholders on how the Municipality could implement the President's directive on the coronavirus.

He said the Assembly was prepared to partner all the key stakeholders to prevent the spread of the disease to the area.

"One of the key things we want to do is to embark on a serious public education in our markets because a lot of people gather at the market places and funeral homes. These are trying times for all of us and I hope the radio stations would give us free airtime to enable us reach out to many people."     

Mr Aduum said the traditional rulers in the area have the authority to enforce some of the directives on for instance the performance of funerals and appealed to the paramount chiefs to support the Assembly in its efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.

Dr Winfred Ofosu, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, said as part of the region's preparedness towards the control and spread of the virus, the Regional Health Directorate has allocated an ambulance that would transport any reported case to the appropriate treatment centre.

He said the Directorate has also put out a telephone helpline for people to report any suspected case to the service.

 He said the region's technical team was currently undergoing training in Accra and upon their return, would also train staff of the various districts to upgrade their knowledge on the virus.

Dr Edwin Saanwie, the Acting Medical Superintendent of the War Memorial Hospital, said as part of measures put in place to combat the virus, the hospital was training its staff on the use of Personal Protection Equipment's (PPE) and also limiting the number of people who visit their sick relatives at the hospital.

He said the hospital had made available soap and running water for all persons who visit the facility to wash their hands before leaving its premises.

Dr Saanwie said the hospital needed a lot of logistics to support its work, "We need logistics in the hospital to compliment what we are doing, our labs are running down and we need support to manage them".

He appealed to the Assembly and other institutions in the area to come to the aid of the hospital.

GNA

HT/PDC

19 March, 2020

Photo Caption: Kassena Nankana Municipal Security Council meeting