The Ghana Health Service (GHS), through its Port Health Department and with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), has held a national stakeholder validation meeting on the draft National Vector Surveillance and Control Guidelines for Points of Entry (PoEs).
The guidelines are intended to provide a standardised, risk-based and coordinated framework for preventing, detecting, monitoring and controlling vectors of public health importance at Ghana’s Points of Entry.
Held at the new GHS Headquarters in Pantang, the meeting brought together key stakeholders to review the draft, assess the practicality of proposed measures and identify gaps requiring further refinement before its finalisation.
Deputy Director of Port Health, Dr Alphonsus Chantiwuni Nindow, said the guidelines were being developed because Ghana’s Points of Entry serve as major interfaces for international movement of people, conveyances and cargo, creating potential opportunities for the introduction and spread of disease vectors.
He said the draft guidelines would address gaps identified in vector surveillance, human resources, infrastructure, laboratory support and emergency response capacity at Points of Entry.
According to Dr Nindow, the guidelines would provide practical and standardized procedures for Port Health officials and other stakeholders, while allowing individual Points of Entry to apply a common risk-based approach based on their specific circumstances.
The guidelines cover vector identification, surveillance and monitoring, risk assessment and categorisation, surveillance indicators, thresholds and vector-free zones. They also provide guidance on the inspection and control of vectors associated with conveyances, cargo, containers, baggage and Point of Entry environments.
Dr Nindow further explained that the guidelines would outline procedures for detecting, reporting, investigating and responding to unusual vector-related events, including invasive vectors and outbreaks.
The framework is expected to apply to all Points of Entry in Ghana and cover vector surveillance, conveyance and cargo inspection, environmental inspection within Points of Entry and their 400-metre perimeter, vector control, data management, reporting, governance and capacity building.
The development of the guidelines followed a baseline assessment conducted at the Accra International Airport, Tema Port and Aflao Ground Crossing, followed by a technical review by a Technical Working Group.
The validation meeting therefore provided stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the document’s technical accuracy, operational relevance and suitability to Ghana’s context, while building consensus on proposed amendments ahead of finalization.
Participants included representatives from the National Malaria Elimination Programme, National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, School of Public Health/Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Veterinary Services Directorate, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division, Food and Drugs Authority and other relevant institutions.