The importance of community readiness in dealing with public health emergencies has been brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this, countries need to regularly assess their preparedness activities at the community level to detect and respond to outbreaks more effectively.
In Ghana, the Ministry of Health, Ghana, the World Health Organization, and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) co-organized a three-day community readiness simulation exercise in the Eastern region of Ghana. The aim was to test communities’ preparedness and emergency response plans, bringing together stakeholders from health, local government, disaster management, animal and environment sectors.
During the exercise, the WHO Representative to Ghana, Prof. Francis Kasolo emphasized the role of communities in the prevention, preparedness, and response to any type of emergency, regardless of the hazard. He highlighted the need to strengthen community resources for effective outbreaks response.
Dr. Claire Bayntun, UK-PHRST Head of Capacity Strengthening, expressed delight in the collaboration and stated that the exercise will ultimately help local communities be better prepared for outbreaks in the future. The exercise aimed to identify strengths, gaps, and reflect on priorities that will help to strengthen communities’ readiness, working with the health workforce to detect, notify, and respond to public health threats before they escalate.
Dr. Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe, speaking on behalf of the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, reiterated the need to leverage community resources and expertise to mitigate potential health risks. He emphasized the importance of partnering with affected communities before and during an emergency to better protect lives and livelihoods.
The exercise brought together 65 participants from three communities across two districts in the Eastern Region and was the first of its kind in Ghana. The outcome will provide useful information to inform the WHO Community Readiness Checklist and offer transferable lessons for other communities and countries.
Stakeholders at the exercise emphasized the need for sustained community involvement to ensure informed, engaged, and empowered communities during, before, and after health emergencies. It is clear that continued engagement with key community actors and the provision of necessary information will help address emergencies in a timely manner and protect lives and livelihoods during health emergencies.
