Ghana and WHO Conduct Simulation Exercise to Strengthen Disaster Response Capabilities

In a move to bolster Ghana’s disaster preparedness, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), is leading a full-scale simulation exercise from November 11 to 15, 2024, at the Critical Care and Emergency Hospital in Accra. The event is a joint effort involving UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to test the nation’s readiness in responding to health-related disasters.

The exercise, organized at the hospital—formerly the UN COVID-19 field hospital—focuses on evaluating the Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM) and Health Emergency Facility (HEF) kits. These cutting-edge tools are designed to enable rapid setup of essential medical facilities in remote or crisis-affected areas, eliminating the need to transport patients over long distances and potentially reducing the spread of infectious diseases. This approach aligns with the “containment-at-source” principle, a critical aspect of effective outbreak response.

The Commander of the Critical Care and Emergency Hospital, Brig. Gen. Evelyn Vivian Kwabiah, emphasized that the exercise aligns with Ghana’s commitment to coordinated disaster response efforts. She expressed confidence in the simulation’s role in reinforcing the country’s capacity to manage complex humanitarian challenges. Brig. Gen. Kwabiah commended the WHO for its leadership and called for sustained collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders to ensure the simulation’s success.

WHO Ghana’s Dr. Frank Lule highlighted the importance of the exercise, noting that it comes at a time when Ghana is enhancing its readiness for health emergencies. Dr. Lule outlined four primary focus areas:

Strengthening Collaboration and Coordination: Enhancing partnerships among health organizations, emergency responders, and military teams.
Hands-On Training with Innovative Solutions: Familiarizing participants with the IDTM and HEF kits for practical use.

Comprehensive Case Management: Demonstrating full patient journeys from diagnosis to treatment, including respectful care for non-survivors.
Juan Emmanuel Dewez, Chief of Health and Nutrition at UNICEF Ghana, praised the initiative as a crucial step in building Ghana’s capacity to manage large-scale population displacements and related health challenges effectively.

The ongoing exercise brings together GAF, the Ghana National Ambulance Service, and various civil society organizations. It reflects Ghana’s proactive stance in ensuring rapid and effective disaster responses across the country and the broader West African region.