The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has tasked the Navrongo Health Research Centre and the Kintampo Health Research Centre to intensify research into the persistent seasonal meningitis outbreaks affecting Ghana’s meningitis belt.
The directive was issued during a high-level visit by the DG to assess preparedness, engage key stakeholders, and strengthen collaboration in combating the disease. He was accompanied by Council Members Dr. Gina Teddy and Dr. Michael Kofi Amedi during separate engagements with management and research teams in the Upper East and Bono East Regions.
Addressing researchers, Dr. Akoriyea expressed deep concern over recurring outbreaks, particularly during the dry season, which continue to claim lives.
“We have been having these seasonal outbreaks for some time now. We need to know what is accounting for it, and how we can prevent it as a country,” he stated.
He stressed the urgent need for solid scientific evidence to guide national interventions, policies, and resource allocation. According to him, understanding why outbreaks peak during specific months and why lives continue to be lost is critical to designing lasting solutions.
“We want evidence-based findings so that we can put an end to it,” he emphasized.
Research Must Drive Public Health Action
The Director-General reiterated his vision of placing research at the centre of healthcare delivery in Ghana. He urged the two institutions to move beyond observation and actively shape public health decisions through rigorous, actionable findings.
“Research must lead the Service in service delivery. It should take the lead in ensuring that we provide evidence-based services to the populace,” he said.
Dr. Akoriyea noted that every preventable death represents a burden to the Service and the nation, underscoring the moral and professional responsibility to strengthen preventive strategies.
Targeted, Evidence-Based Solutions
Ghana lies within Africa’s meningitis belt, where outbreaks commonly occur between December and May. While dry winds, dust, overcrowding, and limited access to timely healthcare have been associated with increased transmission, the DG called for locally generated evidence to clearly establish:
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Why outbreaks peak during certain months
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The environmental and social drivers behind transmission
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Gaps in vaccination coverage and surveillance
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Prevention strategies tailored to affected communities
He further encouraged stronger collaboration between research centres, regional health directorates, community leaders, and policymakers to develop practical recommendations for early warning systems, enhanced surveillance, rapid response, and community education initiatives.
From Reaction to Prevention
The DG assured the two research centres of management’s full support in advancing studies that will help Ghana transition from reactive outbreak response to proactive prevention.
“With the expertise of these institutions and the backing of leadership, we can better understand the seasonal pattern and implement targeted measures to protect lives,” he said.
He concluded with a call to urgency and national responsibility:
“Let us generate the evidence that will save lives. The country is counting on us.”
