Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ACCRA1900
2005-09-19 17:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GHANA SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON

Tags:  EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO GH 
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UNCLAS ACCRA 001900 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO GH
SUBJECT: GHANA SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON
AVIAN INFLUENZA

REF: A. STATE 164134


B. STATE 153802

Summary
-------
UNCLAS ACCRA 001900

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO GH
SUBJECT: GHANA SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON
AVIAN INFLUENZA

REF: A. STATE 164134


B. STATE 153802

Summary
--------------

1. (SBU) On September 15, Charge delivered Ref A points on
seeking Ghanaian participation in an international
partnership on Avian Influenza to Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Kwasi Osei-Adjei and Deputy Minister of Health Sam
Owusu-Agyei. Deputy Foreign Minister Osei-Adjei promised to
coordinate closely with the health services and also agreed
to pass the points to President Kufuor's staff. Deputy
Health Minister Owusu-Agyei assured that Ghana would
participate in efforts to monitor and combat Avian Influenza,
but noted that Ghana has insufficient resources to mitigate
effectively a potential outbreak. The U.S. Naval Medical
Research Unit (NAMRU) in Ghana has agreed to provide support
and coordinate on setting up a national influenza center in
Ghana. End Summary.

Avian Influenza Demarche Delivered
--------------

2. (SBU) On September 15, Charge Jerry Lanier, EconChief
Chris Landberg, and Dr. Gregory Raczniak, Officer in Charge
of NAMRU in Ghana, met with Deputy Health Minister
Owusu-Agyei and Public Health Director Dr. George Amofah to
urge GoG support for U.S. initiatives on Avian Influenza.
(Note: Charge also provided a non-paper based on Ref B points
on addressing the threat of Avian Influenza, which Post
delivered as a diplomatic note August 23, 2005. End Note).


3. (SBU) Charge separately delivered the same points and
background material to Deputy Foreign Minister Osei-Adjei,
urging political-level support for the Avian Influenza
partnership. Osei-Adjei said he would convey the points to
President Kufuor's party, at that time in New York City
attending the UN meeting. He also agreed to liaise with the
Health Ministry and other health services to emphasize the
importance of monitoring Avian Influenza and also to
encourage international cooperation.

Health Ministry Issues and NAMRU Support
--------------

4. (SBU) Although Deputy Health Minister Owusu-Agyei and
Public Health Director Amofah were supportive of the concept
of an international partnership to combat Avian Influenza,
they said their major challenge was a lack of resources.
Owusu-Agyei noted the huge burden of fighting disease on
countries like Ghana, and said the GoG had insufficient
resources even to provide effective surveillance of any
potential outbreak. He concluded that Ghana would need
outside support to initiate preventative actions, beyond mere
surveillance and detection.


5. (SBU) NAMRU OIC Dr. Raczniak briefed Owusu-Agyei and Dr.
Amofah on the resources available to them (possibly including
simple surveillance equipment) through the Naval Medical
Research Unit No. 3 in Cairo, Egypt. Raczniak stated that
the DoD Global Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance
system (GEISS) has collaborated with the WHO and over 60
Ministries of Health across Asia, Eastern Europe and Middle
East in setting up national influenza centers. The NAMRU3
surveillance network has been working with Health Ministries
in Africa to establish a similar collaborative effort, and
Dr. Raczniak recommended establishing a center in Ghana. He
noted that one important aspect of this network is
information sharing, with NAMRU3 receiving diagnostic
samples, isolates and aggregated epidemiological information
to fulfill the GEISS and WHO goals. Owusu-Agyei and Dr.
Amofah eagerly welcomed the initiative. Dr. Raczniak agreed
to coordinate the project with Dr. Amofah and the Ghanaian
surveillance unit.
LANIER