Ghana’s Epidemic Preparedness Fund: Tales of 10 virgins

In the Bible, there is a story known as the “Parable of the 10 Virgins” which tells the story of 10 virgins who were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. The Bible describes five of the virgins as wise and the other five as foolish. The reason is that the five wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps while the other five foolish virgins failed to do so.

As they kept waiting for the bridegroom to arrive, they all fell asleep. However, when they were alerted by the arrival of the bridegroom, they all got up and decided to light up their lamps. Sadly, their lamps had run out of oil. But the wise virgins who had brought extra oil, refilled their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. But for the fools, there was nothing they could do at that critical moment to get extra oil to light up their lamps. In effect, they missed the opportunity to meet the bridegroom. It is for this reason that the Bible describes the five other virgins who did not bring extra oil as “fools.”

The import of the story dwells on the essence of adequate and proactive measures for unknown circumstances. The five wise virgins made adequate provisions for their journey which enabled them not to find themselves wanting when the bridegroom arrived – they were able to light up their lamps because they had extra oil. 

The lesson we learn from this parable is not only relevant in theological or moral teachings but very necessary in our response to health emergencies, including epidemics. It is for this reason that Ghana must lean itself towards the approach of the five wise virgins in setting up Public Health Emergency and Preparedness Fund (PHEF).

In this context, the PHEF will serve as the extra oil when the country finds itself in a public health emergency such as outbreaks of epidemics. When the country has in place necessary resources and adequate infrastructure prepared purposely towards responding to epidemics, it will be easier to contain any health emergencies that will pose threat to public health in the country.

By investing in PHEF, Ghana is taking proactive steps to protecting the health and well-being of its citizens. Just as the wise virgins were rewarded for their preparedness, Ghana will be better equipped to handle any future epidemics or health crises that may come its way.

While the story may have deeper theological implications, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of being prepared and having the necessary resources on hand at all times. By investing in the PHEF, Ghana is taking a crucial step towards safeguarding the health and safety of its people. 

Just as preparation and wise decision-making are crucial, the importance of epidemic preparedness in the health sector cannot be overlooked. Epidemics are highly unpredictable and so when health systems are not well-prepared to handle them, they cause a lot of damage.

Just as the five virgins who took extra oil prepared for the unknown, preparing for public health emergencies will not only save lives but would reduce the strain on the national budget for an unplanned expense. This is because the system has been designed to take up such challenges and so it will not be taken by surprise.

Failure for us as a nation to make provisions for public health emergencies will only cause us to suffer the calamity that the unwise virgins suffered. The reason they suffered was because they did not think outside the box and therefore did not prepare for any unforeseen circumstance.

Sad realities

During a telephone interview with the Ghanaian Times, Madam Tiyumba Alhassan, who lost her only son to meningitis five years ago, believes Ghana needs to institute adequate measures to prevent seasonal diseases, including meningitis.

Her view is that even though health authorities are aware of many common disease outbreaks, “our approaches to tackling them leaves much to be desired.”

“I had my son almost at age 43. I have three daughters. But unfortunately, he was the one that death took away,” she narrated.

For her, she still remembers the moment her son died, arguing that “if her son had received early care, probably, he would have survived.”

Madam Tiyumba added, “On that day, I was unable to walk home. Even though my house was just a short distance from the local hospital, it felt like I was walking 2000 miles. I can’t recall how I made it back.”

She said her late husband, who died at age 48, also died from meningitis.

“As I mourn my child daily, I have realised the importance of epidemic preparedness and the need for funding to support public health initiatives. With proper resources and planning, lives can be saved and tragedies like this can be prevented. Although nothing can bring back my son who had lost his life to meningitis, his memory should live as a reminder of the importance of being prepared and proactive in the face of potential health crises. The fund will become a beacon of hope, ensuring that no more lives would be lost needlessly to preventable diseases,” she added.

Threats of epidemics

We are constantly threatened by epidemics. It is for this reason our elders say “no one knows tomorrow.” The fear of the unknown only calls for preparation. Even though nobody wishes to experience any epidemics in this country, we cannot also rule out the fact that we live in a world where we are not immune from experiencing epidemics.

Ghana has experienced several disease outbreaks including chickenpox, cholera, measles, meningitis, yellow fever, Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, monkey pox, and COVID-19 pandemic. These epidemics should serve as a lesson for us to prepare ourselves for other epidemics.

The difference, however, is that those who prepare for epidemics are not overwhelmed when they encounter such incidents. But the same cannot be said for those who do not make any preparations for them at all.

Experts Views

A Public Health Expert, Mr Emmanuel Asante, was of the view that a fund to help the country deal promptly and adequately with epidemics was in line with Article 34 of the 1992 Constitution which promotes the right to good health.

For him Article 36 (10) of the 1992 Constitution makes it mandatory for the state to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all persons in employment adding that the country was a signatory to the Abuja Declaration which makes it a duty for the country to allocate at least 15 per cent of its total expenditure to the health sector.

He expressed the concern that for more than two decades after the signing of the Abuja Declaration, the country has still not met the targets of the Declaration.

He therefore called on policy makers to implement what they signed on to.

Dr Dorcas Asamoah Agyei, an epidemiologist, adding on stated that the establishment of PHEF would enhance the skills and resources of health workers and institutions to effectively respond to epidemics.

She pointed out that capacity building in the health care sector was essential for improving the quality of care, strengthening health systems and ensuring better health outcomes for individuals and communities.

She said it was an investment that can have far-reaching benefits for both health care providers and the populations they serve therefore urging government to consider the establishment of PHEF.

The Director of the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Dr Kwaku Poku Asante, also called for the establishment of PHEF saying it would increase support to Health Research Centres (HRCs) nationwide.

He highlighted that the support would not only enhance the capabilities of existing HRCs but would significantly benefit the country’s health sector by enabling timely detection of diseases.

Dr Asante also pointed out that Ghana’s strategic location, with many people passing through the country’s borders, makes it particularly vulnerable to diseases, therefore stressing the need of the Fund.

Conversion of COVID-19 Fund      

Some advocates for PHEF, including SEND Ghana, have even called on the government to convert the COVID-19 Trust Fund into the PHEF fund.

The COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, 2021, Act 1068, was enacted by Parliament in 2021 to impose a special levy on the supply of goods and services and imports to raise revenue to support COVID–19 expenditures and other related matters.

The COVID-19 Fund since its creation has mobilised a substantial amount of money. Data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) within eight months after the fund came into operation showed that an amount of GH¢773.93 million had been mobilised. The figure has since increased to GH¢889 million by the end of 2021 and GH¢1.14 billion in 2022 with the government collecting some GH¢2.5billion 2023 and anticipating more this year.

Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring on May 5, 2023, that COVID-19 was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) allowing countries to transition from emergency mode to managing it like any other infectious disease, advocates for the PHEF argue that there is no longer a need to maintain the COVID-19 health levy. This is because the government has stated that coronavirus is no longer a public health threat.

Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the Presidential Advisor on Health, in a recent media interview, hinted that the PHEF was something the government was seriously considering to improve response to possible public health epidemics.

For him the process was not as simple as perceived by PHEF advocates because the COVID-19 Levy was created by an Act of Parliament and that to convert it into other uses must also go through the same parliamentary procedure.

Way Forward

The tragic death of the one-year-old child and the parable of the 10 virgins serves as a poignant reminder of the severe consequences that epidemics can have on vulnerable populations.

By ensuring that resources are readily available when they are most needed, the fund plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health and welfare of individuals globally. Government must endorse and allocate resources to this vital initiative to enhance preparedness for future epidemics.

It is crucial to take action now to prepare for future outbreaks and drive the rapid advancement of Ghana’s healthcare system. The government must uphold its commitment outlined in the 2022-2025 National Medium Term Development Framework in readiness for future public health threats.

The Government must show strong political commitment to mobilise and protect domestic resources to help achieve its set objectives under UHC and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 which focuses on ensuring health and well-being for all.

BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY