Issue 2, March 4th 2010 This product is produced by the OCHA Humanitarian Support Unit in

Key Points • Ghana records a new strain of W135 meningitis • Bushfires leave approximately 5,000 people homeless in the Northern and Brong Ahafo Regions • Ghana selected to receive the Pandemic H1N1 vaccine by WHO. • UNHCR Contingency Plan for possible refugee influx from updated.

I. Situation Overview

Sporadic incidences of Meningitis Update in UWR: Week1- 7 (2010) cerebrospinal meningitis Source: (DSD) (CSM) continue to be No CFR LPs Nm Nm Nm S. org. registered across many District Cases Death (%) done A C W135 Pneu Hib Other seen parts of the three Jirapa 52 8 15.4 44 0 0 13 1 0 1 31 northern regions of Lambussie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ghana. While meningitis Lawra 11 0 0.0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 is a perennial occurrence Nadowli 14 4 28.6 9 1 0 0 6 0 0 2 during the hot and dry Sissala season; the East 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 unprecedented reports of Sissala a new strain W135 have West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wa East 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 caused great concern Wa 17 5 29.4 9 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 among partners working Wa West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 in the health sector. As of Total 95 17 17.9 73 2 0 15 9 0 1 44 Monday March 1st, at least 20 deaths and approximately 150 cases had been confirmed in Jirapa District of Upper West Region leading to declaration of a meningitis outbreak two weeks ago. Last week three other Districts – Bulsa, Bongo and Kassena-Nakane in Upper East were declared an outbreak as well. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health with partners have intensified surveillance for Pandemic H1N1 following fresh reports of at least 13 cases at the American International School.

Humanitarian partners in Ghana including the Ghana Refugee Board, NADMO, UN system and NGOs met twice to update the existing UNHCR Contingency Plan for possible refugee influx from Togo. Based on previous experiences i.e. 1998 and 2005; the partners agreed to work with a planning figure of approximately 10,000 refugees as the most likely scenario. In the worst case scenario, the participants agreed on a planning figure of 20,000 refugees. Other issues of concern being addressed include identification of both transit and sites, development of sector specific strategic objectives and mapping out of existing capacities in the country. UNHCR and Ghana Refugee Board have in the recent past trained Migration Officials at the border areas on key areas especially identification and registration of refugees.

According to NADMO reports, widespread bushfires left approximately 5,000 people homeless in the Northern and Brong Ahafo regions during the second week of February. The incidences were attributed to land burning in preparation for cultivation as well as the dry spell experienced as a result of the Hamattan season. NADMO responded by providing some basic assistance to the affected populations and conducting community sensitization activities to inform on the adverse effects of land burning and also providing basic training on response to volunteer groups.

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II. Sector Updates

Health

At least 20 people have died and several others hospitalized in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions of Ghana following an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), this is according to the Director General of Ghana Health Service. Medical experts confirmed that cases reported in Jirapa district (worst affected) were beyond the epidemic threshold following the death of eight out of 52 initial reported cases. Other districts recently classified in an outbreak mode include: Bulsa, Bongo and Kassena-Nakane in Upper East Region. It has been noted that while Ghana has always prepositioned enough stocks of vaccines to respond to meningitis epidemics; the current outbreak is of a new strain – W135 and requires a different type of vaccine to combat. The Ministry of Health met with WHO and other partners to discuss immediate procurement of the new vaccine through the International Coordination Group (ICG). 70,000 doses of vaccines arrived in the country on March 3rd and were immediately deployed to Jirapa in Upper West. The last time Ghana had an outbreak with severe fatalities was in 1999/2000. Meningitis mainly occurs in northern Ghana following the long hot and dry months of December to March. Risk factors include household overcrowding, smoking and exposure to smoke and close contact with affected persons.

On March 2nd, Ghana’s First Lady launched a National Polio Immunization Campaign expected to start on March 5th to 7th and again on April 23rd to 25th. More than 42,000 volunteers will conduct door to door vaccination of all children under 5 against polio. The campaign is being implemented by the Ministry of Health, NGOs and Volunteers with the financial and technical support from UNICEF, Rotary, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO. Six million doses of polio vaccines have been procured targeting about 5.1 million children under-fives nationwide. This campaign is part of a synchronized vaccination campaign taking place across 17 countries in the West and Central Africa and aims at vaccinating at least 75 million children.

According to the acting Head of Disease Surveillance of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ghana is among countries selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) to receive the H1N1 vaccine. The first batch of 500,000 doses is expected to be released within the first quarter of this year. The first beneficiaries to be considered will be health workers and the security agencies. Under this programme, the WHO head office in Geneva will provide vaccines and relevant equipment at a cost of $3.8million, while the Government of Ghana is expected to mobilize a little over $1million with the assistance of its health partners. A budget of $4,820,408 is needed to cover activities during the first phase of the programme. Meanwhile, fresh reports of Influenza H1N1 were identified at the American International School in Accra on February 25th. Thirteen out of seventeen suspected cases reported turned out positive. According to medical authorities the situation has been contained and affected population is being closely monitored.

The latest report by Ghana Demographic Health Survey has revealed that at least 38 percent of children in the Eastern Region are stunted due to malnutrition. The Regional Nutrition Officer (RNO) confirmed the assertion to the media saying that almost all districts had recorded malnutrition prevalence of between 6-10%. However eight districts including New Juaben, Akuapem North, Akwapim South, West Akyem, Kwaebibirem, Upper Manya, Suhum Kraboa Coaltar, Kwahu North and Kwahu West had the highest prevalence recording more than 10% cases of malnutrition in children. As a result, several measures are being adopted to encourage and enable parents’ access low cost nutritional foods i.e. the Ghana Health Service is collaborating with Agriculture Extension Officers to educate farmers to grow certain crops that provide required nutrients. According to the RNO, factors

OCHA Humanitarian Unit - Ghana, UNDP Office – Off Ring Road Cantonments P.O Box 1423 Accra - Ghana. Tel: +233 21 760 130 Monthly Humanitarian Bulletin Date/Issue

attributed to this high prevalence include: low intake of nutritional foods, ignorance, poverty, myths and beliefs.

Food Security

On February 23rd, the Food Research Institute (FRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched a two-year project in Accra with the aim of improving post-harvest quality and packaging of rice, sorghum, millet and cassava to enhance their marketability in West Africa. According to the National Coordinator of FRI, the project was among six others to be implemented under the framework of the Emergency Global Food Security Initiative in response to the ongoing food crisis and hiking food prices. The project is expected to promote improved rice, sorghum, millet and cassava processing technologies to ensure food security through enhanced access to markets and by increasing farmers and processors incomes. The project has a regional cover with focus on Senegal, Mail, , Ghana, Burkina- Faso, , Togo, Niger and , where capacities of targeted groups will be strengthened to enable them adopt to the technologies being championed while access to the acquisition of simple processing equipment will be facilitated through relevant linkages. Experts will analyze existing rice post-harvest technologies and identify gaps; produce training manuals on improved threshing; milling; pre-boiling and packaging. Supply of adequate planting materials and extension support will be provided.

Disaster Risk Reduction - Preparedness

Humanitarian partners in Ghana including the Ghana Refugee Board, NADMO, UN system and NGOs have updated the existing UNHCR Contingency Plan for possible refugee influx from Togo following the Presidential Election to be held on March 4th 2010. Based on previous experiences i.e. 1998 and 2005; the partners agreed to work with a planning figure of approximately 10,000 refugees as the most likely scenario. In the worst case scenario, the participants agreed on a planning figure of 20,000 refugees.

On March 3rd, UNHCR and OCHA with the support and facilitation of Ghana Refugee Board and NADMO undertook a quick mission to Denu District which borders Aflao entry point to assess the suitability of identified reception centre and refugee sites. Discussions were held and tour of both sites undertaken together with officials from District Coordinating Council (DCC), NADMO, Red Cross, and National Catholic Secretariat. UNHCR further proceeded to Kadjebi north of Volta Region to conduct a similar exercise on another site identified. A consolidated report of the mission will be circulated to partners once finalized.

III. Upcoming Events

• The National Technical Coordination Committee (NTCC) on Pandemics will meet on March 10 to appraise the existing Meningitis and H1N1 situation. • On 27th March, the President of Ghana will launch a National Cleaning Campaign initiative in Accra aimed at opening gutters and other water ways in preparation for the rainy season. This event will be spearheaded by NADMO.

OCHA Humanitarian Unit - Ghana, UNDP Office – Off Ring Road Cantonments P.O Box 1423 Accra - Ghana. Tel: +233 21 760 130 Monthly Humanitarian Bulletin Date/Issue

Contact Information Mr. Daouda Toure, UN Resident Coordinator [email protected]

Mercy Manyala, Head of OCHA Humanitarian Unit [email protected]

John Sule, National Humanitarian Officer [email protected]

Alex Bokuma, National Humanitarian Officer [email protected]

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OCHA Humanitarian Unit - Ghana, UNDP Office – Off Ring Road Cantonments P.O Box 1423 Accra - Ghana. Tel: +233 21 760 130