Source: APO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has handed over emergency health supplies to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to support ongoing public health preparedness and response following the floods that affected parts of Ghana on 29 June 2026.
The floods caused displacement, disrupted essential services and created significant humanitarian needs in affected communities. In the Greater Accra Region alone, 38,802 people were affected and 7,761 households were displaced across 25 communities in 18 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The impact of the floods extended beyond Greater Accra, with communities in other regions also affected. The Inter-Agency Working Group on Emergencies (IAWGE), supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), conducted a rapid needs assessment to better understand the humanitarian impact and priority needs arising from the floods.
The assessment identified several public health concerns, particularly around water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), including unsafe drinking water, disrupted sanitation services, waste accumulation and conditions that could increase mosquito breeding.
These conditions can increase the risk of cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and other water- and vector-borne diseases, making sustained surveillance and preparedness critical even after floodwaters have receded.
As part of its support, WHO handed over six Interagency Emergency Health Kits; Basic Modules and 600 cholera Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), valued at more than GHS60,000. The emergency kits will help support the provision of essential health services, while the cholera RDTs will strengthen the early detection and investigation of suspected cases.
Speaking at the handover, WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Fiona Braka, said the supplies were intended to strengthen Ghana’s readiness to detect and respond to health threats emerging in the aftermath of the floods.
“While the immediate effects of the floods may be subsiding, the associated public health risks can persist. This support will help strengthen Ghana’s preparedness and ensure that we can act quickly to protect the health of affected communities should new risks emerge”, Dr Braka said.
Dr Braka added that WHO will continue to support the Ghana Health Service (GHS) with cholera surveillance and maintain readiness to support appropriate response measures.
Receving the supplies on behalf of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Dr Lutfia Saeed Jamal, said
“This support from WHO is timely and will contribute to strengthening our collective response to the public health risks associated with the floods. We appreciate the continued collaboration between WHO, NADMO, the Ghana Health Service and other partners in protecting affected communities”.
The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe expressed appreciation for the support and assured that the supplies would be used for their intended purpose to strengthen the country’s public health response.
“This support comes at an important time as we continue to strengthen surveillance and preparedness following the floods. We appreciate WHO’s timely assistance and will ensure that the supplies are put to their intended use to support disease detection, response and the protection of affected communities”, he said.
The handover was also witnessed by the Co-chair of the InterAgency Working Group on Emergencies who is the World Food Program Country Director, Aurore Rusiga.
The handover reflects the continued collaboration between the Government of Ghana, WHO and partners through the Inter-Agency Working Group on Emergencies to strengthen preparedness, surveillance and response to public health threats following emergencies.
WHO remains committed to working closely with the Government of Ghana and partners to strengthen emergency preparedness and response and ensure that the health needs of populations affected by emergencies are addressed promptly and effectively.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.