Ghana and Ivory Coast strengthen cooperation against Mpox and other diseases

Recently, health officials from Ghana and Ivory Coast met during the Regional Cross-Border Meeting on the Mpox Epidemic, organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and agreed on a joint plan to contain the disease outbreak. The three-day event also saw the presence of local government representatives and immigration and customs officers from both countries, who discussed ways to prevent and manage cross-border epidemics. Ghana’s Ministry of Health reaffirmed its support for regional health security and underlined the importance of International Health Regulations (IHR) for guiding the countries’ response to disease outbreaks.
Participants in the meeting reviewed Mpox infection trends, shared stories about their outbreak experiences, and developed a joint strategy to improve surveillance and response practices. The focus of the discussions was on sustaining long-term partnerships to protect public health, which is seen as an urgent necessity due to the increasing movement of people and goods between Ghana and the Ivory Coast.