Ghana Health Service Eulogises NMIMR for Decades of Vital Contributions to Outbreak Detection and Emergency Response
The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, has on behalf of the Service, commended the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for its outstanding contributions to disease outbreak detection and emergency response over the past four decades.
His remarks were made during the last in a series of lectures to mark the 45th anniversary of the Institute. The lecture, themed “The Impact of NMIMR on the GHS Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response System,” was held at the Noguchi Conference Hall.
In his presentation, Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe addressed various aspects of disease surveillance and emergency response. He discussed the increasing frequency of outbreaks in Ghana, emphasising “the importance of prompt measures and pathogen confirmation for appropriate responses.” He further outlined several priority epidemic-prone diseases in Ghana, including “Acute hemorrhagic fever syndromes, Anthrax, Bacterial Meningitis, Cholera, COVID-19 and Dengue fever.”
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe noted, “Ghana relies on a network of WHO-certified laboratories to investigate suspected cases of these diseases, with free testing available in designated labs.” He explained the essential role of NMIMR as Ghana’s largest and most significant laboratory for investigating public health priority diseases.
“The NMIMR and the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) are Ghana’s primary public health labs” he added, while highlighting the importance of “community-based interventions, information dissemination and collaborations with relevant authorities in managing disease outbreaks.”
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe praised NMIMR’s achievements, particularly its role as “Ghana's sole centre for disease control, pathogen confirmation, logistic and equipment sharing with GHS, staff training and collaborative research.” He specifically noted NMIMR’s involvement in “Ebola diagnostics, research, and surveillance” as a major accomplishment.
Additionally, he highlighted that NMIMR’s work in malaria research and treatment regimens has “significantly impacted the management of the diseases in Ghana.”
Further, Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe lauded NMIMR’s contributions to the research, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which he said “has helped shape national health policies.” He commended NMIMR’s strides in “improving diagnosis and treatment for Tuberculosis, enhancing Ghana’s response to this infectious disease.” He added, “NMIMR’s research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) has also provided important insights that have supported targeted health interventions.”
In terms of disease surveillance and outbreak response, Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe noted, “NMIMR has strengthened Ghana’s disease surveillance system, provided crucial support during major outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19 and enhanced laboratory infrastructure and capacity.”
In his opening remarks earlier, Prof. Michael Fokuo Ofori, who represented the Director of NMIMR, spoke about the Institute’s commitment to its mission. He noted
that the event marked the final lecture in a series planned to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Institute, spotlighting “the contributions of the Institute to the work of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.”
Prof. Ofori expressed gratitude to “the previous lecturers who shared the podium and shared insights on the work of the Institute and focus areas for the future,” as well as to the “staff, research fellows and partners who have made the work at the Institute possible.”
The former Head of the Department of Epidemiology at NMIMR, Prof. Nancy Duah Quashie, who chaired the event, paid glowing tribute to the late Prof. Michael David Wilson, Professor of Parasitology and acknowledged the influence of the many others who contributed to the growth of NMIMR.
Prof. Quashie expressed satisfaction with NMIMR’s contributions to the Ghana Health Service, reaffirming that “NMIMR has been instrumental in pathogen confirmation, staff training for the Ghana Health Service, and establishing reference labs.” She advocated for “a stronger synergy between public and private institutions to advance disease control and eradication efforts,” especially given NMIMR’s “vital role in viral disease research and management.”
This milestone celebration underscores 45 years of impactful research and contributions to sustainable global health by the Institute, reinforcing its commitment to advancing health research for the benefit of communities within and beyond Ghana.