Stigma and low awareness are slowing Mpox response – GHS

Efforts to control the Mpox outbreak in Ghana are being hindered by deep-seated stigma and a lack of public awareness, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The country has recorded 494 confirmed cases so far, spanning all 16 regions, and Western, Western North, and Greater Accra remain the most affected areas.

To help curb the spread, Ghana is expecting a shipment of 33,600 Mpox vaccines in the coming weeks. The GHS plans to prioritise hotspot areas, especially in mining communities and densely populated urban slums.

Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the GHS, says public education efforts are underway but not without challenges.

“We are trying to expand and improve our awareness campaigns. There are areas like Tarkwa where awareness is high, but in other regions, it’s still low. The upcoming vaccines will be targeted mainly at hotspots to help interrupt the chain of transmission,” Dr Bekoe shared.

He added that most reported cases have been mild, and the Service is providing psychological support to patients to encourage cooperation with contact tracing.

GHS is currently working to identify clusters of infection and prepare cohorts for vaccination once the doses arrive. The goal is to reduce case numbers through targeted immunisation and improved community engagement.

With stigma keeping some individuals from seeking care or disclosing symptoms, health officials are urging the public to treat Mpox as a public health issue rather than a moral one.