The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, has lauded Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for its immense contributions to disease surveillance and emergency response systems over the past years.
Sharing insights into NMIMR’s responses to disease outbreaks during a lecture series that forms part of the Institute’s 45th Anniversary celebrations, Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe projected the significant strides made by NMIMR in enriching Ghana’s disease surveillance and emergency response.
According to him, his lecture titled, “The Impact of NMIMR on the GHS Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response System,” does not only highlight the contributions of NMIMR but also indicates the Institute’s commitment and continued support to advancing the country’s level of capacity in terms of disease detection and emergency response.
“The Ghana Health Service commends NMIMR for their tireless efforts in supporting our disease surveillance and emergency response system. This partnership has been instrumental in protecting the health and well-being of Ghanaians”.
Reflecting on NMIMR’s role in disease surveillance and outbreak response, Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe noted that the Institute has strengthened Ghana’s surveillance system, provided critical support during major outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19, and enhanced laboratory infrastructure and capacity.
“When it comes to disease surveillance, every minute counts. For Ghana, the centre of research is Noguchi. It has been a key player in disease surveillance and emergency response. The impact of Noguchi’s work goes beyond statistics; it is about saving lives and protecting communities. he recounted
He further explained that disease confirmation is crucial to emergency response. Adding that Noguchi has been a reliable outfit when it comes to confirmation. “Noguchi is there to confirm; without confirmation, I am not sure you are clear in your mind what to do next.”
“As Ghana’s largest public health laboratory, NMIMR plays a crucial role in investigating priority diseases. Ghana relies on a network of WHO-certified laboratories, including NMIMR, which provides free testing at designated labs across the country”. Adding that the collaboration between NMIMR and the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) has shown NMIMR’s crucial role in community-based interventions, information dissemination, and coordination with authorities during disease outbreaks.
“The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has demonstrated unwavering commitment to improving Ghana’s disease surveillance and emergency response system. As the country continues to face evolving health challenges, NMIMR’s groundbreaking work will remain pivotal in safeguarding the health and well-being of Ghanaians,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe reiterated.