Gov’t approves insurance for frontline Ebola workers

Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, Chief of Staff says government has approved an insurance policy for all frontline health and auxiliary workers that would be handling Ebola related issues.

He said apart from serving as an incentive to the workers, it would also leverage their commitment to work for the salvation of others in the country and beyond.

Mr Bani announced this when Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to the United Nations led a 10-member delegation to call on him at the Flagstaff house, Kanda.

The delegation were at the Presidency to commend President Mahama's administration for playing a leading role in the fight against the deadly viral disease in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Their mission also included; drawing a plan with the government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to fight against the elimination of the sub-region.

Mr Bani said the World Health Organisation has promised to provide logistics for the workers and other auxiliary staff and the provision of the insurance because of the high risk the workers would be exposed to, although adequate measures have been put in place to ensure their optimum security.

He said although Ghana recorded a total of 112 suspected cases, all proved negative after undergoing series of medical examinations and urged the health workers at the various entry points to be vigilant to ensure that Ghana remains an Ebola free country.

The Chief of Staff commended the international community for their support so far, adding that the spate of the disease needs concerted efforts to combat in the coming weeks.

He said the ECOWAS would hold an emergency meeting on November 6, in Accra to discuss the way forward in the fight against the disease and called on stakeholders and partners to provide the necessary information that would place them on the right path to solve the epidemic.

Ms Power said Ebola had become the greatest public health issue and commended Ghana for taking up a leading role in the fight against the disease in the region.

She promised to help Ghana and ECOWAS to strategise against the disease in the three countries and beyond.

The US Ambassador said Ghana has a special place in the heart of her country hence President Barrack Obama's visit to the West African State soon after becoming Head of State.

She however called on health workers in the country and all those at the entry points to remain vigilant to protect the country from recording any Ebola case.