The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has deployed an advance team to assess Ghana’s preparedness for the meningitis season in regions within the meningitis belt and the Bono East Region.

The three-member team comprises a senior laboratory officer from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, an officer from the Disease Surveillance Department, and a case management expert.

According to the Ghana Health Service, the deployment forms part of proactive measures to strengthen early detection, response and case management ahead of the meningitis season, which typically affects northern parts of the country.

During the supportive visit, the team is expected to assess disease surveillance systems and laboratory capacity for meningitis detection, review case management practices at health facilities, and evaluate existing preparedness and response plans in the affected regions.

The advance team will also provide on-the-job technical support to regional and district health teams and identify critical gaps requiring immediate intervention to enhance readiness and response to potential outbreaks.

The assessment will inform targeted actions by the Ghana Health Service to strengthen public health preparedness and ensure a coordinated response to meningitis across vulnerable regions.