The Ministry of Health has established a Donation Desk to support philanthropists and corporate entities wishing to donate medical equipment and materials from outside Ghana.

Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, announced this to the Parliamentary press corps in Accra on Tuesday, explaining that the initiative would enable the Ministry to pursue tax waivers on such equipment or materials for the collective benefit of the Ghanaian people.

He encouraged interested individuals and organisations to contact the Donation Desk via the hotline: 0204611611 for assistance.

Earlier, the Health Minister briefed Parliament on the COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Ghana campus and assured Ghanaians that there was no cause for panic, as a robust surveillance system was in place to contain the outbreak.

He reported that there were 316 suspected cases of the Omicron variant and 107 confirmed cases at the university campus, but no deaths or hospital admissions had been recorded.

“Mr Speaker, I want to assure Ghanaians that this is not a new virus, and we are not back in 2020. This Omicron variant has been with us before. It spreads fast, yes, but it is mostly mild. And we know how to manage it,” Mr Akandoh said.

He explained that the outbreak was localised and had not spread widely to Accra communities or other parts of the country.

The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to provide all necessary support, including stockpiling vaccines and PPEs, to help the university manage the situation.

Following investigations, the Ministry found that recent Hall Week celebrations at the university had contributed to the spread of the virus due to non-adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.

In response, the Ministry’s disease surveillance team has been working closely with the University’s Health Directorate, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, and the School of Public Health to sensitise the university community on the importance of observing COVID-19 safety measures.

Campus-wide education campaigns have also been intensified using posters, campus radio, and student leaders to reach the broader university community.

The Minister noted that while COVID-19 is no longer considered a global emergency, occasional outbreaks are expected, and the government remains prepared to manage them promptly.

GNA