A member of the COVID-19 Management Team at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe, says international collaboration is required to fight COVID-19 and monkey pox.

Speaking to Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning Monday, he stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared some infectious diseases to be re-emerging as public health infections of international concern, hence the need for cross-border partnership to effectively deal with the diseases.

According to him, some re-emerging infectious diseases have been recorded in the country, aside from the monkey pox and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The health practitioner also wants the sensitisation of the public intensified in order to reduce the spread.

"We have recorded some viral hemorrhagic fevers in addition to the monkey pox. So these are infectious diseases that are re-emerging and have caused the WHO to declare them public health emergencies of international concern."

"Which means that we need international collaboration to be able to nip them in the bud; otherwise, if you say, because it's in one country, I'm not going to be concerned, by the time you realize it has crossed borders," he explained.

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Meanwhile, there has been a reduction in COVID-19 cases - less than 100 - as no deaths have been recorded since 2021.

Dr. Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe also cautioned the general public to beware of symptoms of monkey pox and report them to the nearest medical facility for attention.

He further revealed that the Greater Accra Regional Hospital has partnered with other institutions, including the Veterinary Services and Forestry Commission, to create awareness about the monkey pox infection as Ghana has so far recorded one death.

"Now we’re in collaboration with all the veterinary services, the Forestry Commission, and even in schools. I was at Central University on Friday to be a resource person for the talk on monkey pox, and I love the way the students in the various tertiary institutions are taking these things seriously to peer review themselves," he said.

He also applauded the Ghana Health Service and the COVID-19 management team for their vigilance against the diseases in all medical centers across the country.

Dr. Addipa-Adapoe also assured that the health sector will continue in its management of the COVID-19 and monkey pox infections, awaiting the vaccine for the monkey pox disease.

He has, however, entreated the populace to report to the nearest vaccination centers and get the COVID-19 vaccine, saying that there is a likelihood of a spike in the coronavirus as the winter and hurricane seasons approach.