BONO REGIONAL MINISTER RALLIES STAKEHOLDERS TO CURB SPREAD OF MPOX

In a bid to strengthen Ghana’s public health response, the Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Addae Akwaboa, has urged stakeholders and the media to step up efforts in public sensitisation to help stem the spread of Mpox in the country.

Speaking at the Bono Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee meeting held in Sunyani, the Minister emphasized the critical role of community collaboration in tackling the disease. “By working together, the public can play a crucial role in helping to contain the spread of Mpox,” he stated.

He called on all citizens to actively support the Ghana Health Service (GHS) by identifying suspected cases within communities and assisting in managing the outbreak.

The meeting brought together key public health actors to discuss updates on Mpox and formulate strategies to prevent its spread within the region.

Providing further insights, Dr. Prince Quarshie, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Bono Regional Directorate of Health, shared alarming statistics, noting that as of June 2025, Ghana had recorded 48 Mpox cases, though no fatalities had been reported.

Dr. Quarshie urged the public to remain vigilant and seek medical attention for any unusual skin rashes, describing Mpox as a contagious disease requiring timely treatment.

He highlighted several symptoms including fever, headache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes typically appearing on the face and other parts of the body. He cautioned against close skin-to-skin contact, particularly with individuals showing visible rashes.

Preventive measures such as regular handwashing with soap under running water, the use of alcohol-based sanitizers, and wearing of nose masks were also emphasized. Dr. Quarshie recalled that Ghana reported its first case of Mpox in 2022.

Although there is currently no approved vaccine or medication for the disease, the GHS has been managing cases effectively. “Out of the 85 recorded cases, 84 of the patients were in stable condition, being monitored in homes and health facilities,” Dr. Quarshie disclosed.

He warned, however, that the disease could become dangerous if not properly managed. He also appealed to the public to refrain from stigmatizing infected individuals, stating that “stigmatization could impede efforts to manage the spread of Mpox.”