The National Ambulance Service in the Western North Region, in collaboration with Essam Debiso District Hospital, has conducted a simulation exercise to assess preparedness for mass casualty incidents.
The exercise, held on April 14, 2026, tested the response capacity of emergency teams using a realistic scenario involving a suspected food poisoning outbreak after a hospital clean-up exercise.
Participants in the simulation, who were said to have consumed millet kenkey, presented symptoms including nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain and vomiting, requiring swift intervention from responders.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) led the response with rapid patient assessment, triage and pre-hospital care, supported by community first responders. Critical cases were stabilised and transported, while hospital staff ensured smooth reception and continued treatment.
The exercise highlighted strong coordination among responders and institutions, while also identifying areas requiring improvement, particularly the need to extend similar drills into communities to boost public awareness and participation.
A debriefing session featured contributions from the Ghana National Fire Service, which shared insights on early fire suppression techniques, underscoring the importance of multi-agency collaboration in emergency management.
The simulation was widely commended as successful, with stakeholders praising participants and facilitators for their commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness and community safety in the district.
