Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Health Minister
Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has said the decision by parents to forcefully take their children home from Kumasi Academy following the outbreak of a mysterious disease that has killed at least 8 people, poses serious health risks.
Panicky parents stormed the school on Tuesday and whisked their children away.
Briefing parliament on the situation on Wednesday, 6 December 2017, the Health Minister said the move by the parents was against the advice of medical professionals.
He warned that the development could spell doom for the public especially given the fact that the cause of the death is not yet known.
“Nogouchi is still working on samples and they haven’t confirmed whatever suspicion doctors have but for now, we are giving whatever medication we can to prevent further infection to the students in the school.
“Unfortunately last night, Mr Speaker, parents have taken their wards from the school and this has become another health challenge because the medical advice said that we should contain them in the school and manage them more efficiently. So, the problem we now have is that if the disease turns out to be contagious, then, it will mean those who have come out of the school into their family homes are also going to help spread the disease so that is the challenge we are confronted with.”
Mr Agyemang-Manu further advised that “in order not to create unnecessary tension and panic in the system, those of us talking about this issue must be professional in the way we talk or else we may create unnecessary panic which might not be the case.”