Ghana has assured its development partners of its preparedness to deal with any outbreak of the poultry disease, Avian Influenza (bird flu).
The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mrs Anna Nyamekye, told the USAID Acting Administrator, Ms Henrietta Fore who visited the La Veterinary Services Department and the La General Hospital in Accra, that the country had put in place intensive surveillance around all staging posts of migratory birds with an Emergency Preparedness Plan to detect any outbreak of the disease.
She said the country had also adopted a bio-security plan to curtail the possible spread of the disease from farm-to-farm, adding that the total ban on import of live birds and poultry products, including feathers, from infected countries was still in place.
Ghana has recorded outbreak of the disease in three areas in Tema, Aflao and Sunyani.
Mrs Nyamekye said government had provided GH(250,000 (2.5 billion cedis) to the Veterinary Services Department for the prevention and control of the disease, to procure personal protective equipment, field equipment, disinfectants and the training of veterinary surgeons as well as public awareness.
She said the prevention and control of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) had been on Government's plan since 2005 due to the devastating effects it could have on the economy and commended donor countries for their support in the fight against the disease.
Ms Fore, who is in Ghana to participate in the Sixth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), applauded the partnership between USAID and the Government of Ghana for developing a National Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan, which was being utilized in Tema, Sunyani and Aflao.
She said: "I am impressed by the commitment, hard work and professionalism of Ghana's Veterinary Services in responding to the recent avian influenza outbreaks on poultry farms."
Ms Fore said the US government had pledged one million dollars to support the country's campaign against the disease and expressed the hope that the cooperation would greatly help in the fight.
At the La General Hospital, Ms Fore said the US government through USAID would provide 14 million dollars to reduce maternal and child mortality, malaria and other infectious diseases.
Source: GNA
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Some disqualified presidential candidates threaten legal action against EC
5 mins -
Nissan Daring Africa: Navara and X-Trail conquer eight countries in epic expedition
21 mins -
Eric Atta-Sonno: Jostling for positions on the ballot paper – Political advantage or plain superstition?
36 mins -
Choosing leaders from different parties brings development – Chief uses Hohoe as an example
52 mins -
Galamsey has the potential to affect our food supply – Researcher
1 hour -
It’ll be bad omen to go into election with a defective voters register – Bossman Asare
1 hour -
Election 2024: Don’t promise what you cannot do – Chief urges politicians
2 hours -
The dangers of partisan politics in managing drought and food crisis
2 hours -
Election balloting: Why are we choosing balls in rubber bag in the age of A.I.? – Dwamena-Aboagye
2 hours -
An independent governance needed for sucess of West African Power Pool
2 hours -
NDC is comfortable with its position on the ballot paper – Kofi Adams
2 hours -
We didn’t swap ballots with Akpaloo – Evans Nimako
3 hours -
I connect easily with Ivorians because I speak French – Michael Essien
3 hours -
Democracy Hub defies injunction to protest against Akufo-Addo
3 hours -
2024/25 GPL match preview: A battle of teams without points as Karela hosts Accra Lions in Nalerigu
3 hours