KATH Launches Second Cybersecurity Awareness Week amid Rising Digital Threats to Healthcare
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has successfully organized the second edition of its Cybersecurity Awareness Week, a vital initiative aimed at fortifying the hospital’s clinical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure against cyber-attacks. Organized in conjunction with the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), the weeklong event is aimed at equipping staff and the public with tools to combat the rising cyber threats in the healthcare space in the country.
Held under the theme, “Cyber Security in Healthcare: Protecting Patient Data, Securing Digital Systems, and Building a Culture of Digital Vigilance,” the overall focus of the celebration is to safeguard data, strengthen technology, and foster alertness.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Dr. (Med) Paa Kwesi Baidoo, in his welcome address classified the need to protect patient information as a moral duty. “Our hospital relies on digital tools like electronic records and telemedicine platforms to improve care, but these come with risks hence the need to put in the right systems to protect them against breaches,” he said.
Dr. (Med) Baidoo disclosed a comprehensive analysis by INTERPOL (2023) that in Africa, cyberattacks on hospitals have surged 300 percent in three years since 2020 with health facilities in South Africa alone facing about 2,300 weekly attacks including the 2024 breach which delayed critical HIV and TB results in that country.
Dr. (Med) Baidoo stressed the need for staff to take advantage of the week to update their cyber security skills and elevate their “digital hygiene so that they can spot fake emails and practice cyberattack responses that can cut cyber-attacks risks by 70 percent, per a 2020 study”.
In a speech read on his behalf, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, Otumfuo’s Hiahene, KATH Board Chairman and chairman for the programme, commended KATH management for its efforts in enhancing the awareness of its staff and the public about cyber surety threats and prevention.
In the speech read by Prof. Eric Clement Desmond Kotei Addison, a renowned Medical Physicist with KNUST and a member of the KATH board, the chairman noted that “cyber security awareness is a vital shield for our healthcare system and we all need to treat cybersecurity as seriously as we do for patient care”.
Mr Twum Samuel Nkansah, Deputy Director, Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council on behalf of the Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Frank Amoakohene, emphasised that digital disruptions could threaten security of patients’ data and derail healthcare.
In his keynote address, Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, the Ag. Director-General of the Cybersecurity Authority (CSA), advocated that “healthcare institutions must promote a culture of digital vigilance by regularly training all staff to identify incidents, securely handle patient’s records, and report problems”.
Mr. Agbeti, who recently led Ghana’s re-election as chair of the African Cybersecurity Network, added that patients must also be empowered through awareness campaigns on how to use the E-health platforms safely and responsibly.
According to him, “protecting patients’ data, securing health systems, and fostering a culture of digital vigilance are essential pillars to succeed in building a resilient digital health infrastructure” he said.
He promised the CSA’s full dedication to support and engage health stakeholders to build a resilient digital infrastructure.
The programme was capped with lively panel discussions, where I.T. experts from the CSA, KNUST and the Ghana Police Service among others shared ideas on tackling cyber threats. Topics discussed ranged from securing hospital networks to spotting fake emails and managing misinformation in healthcare. The audience asked tough questions about Artificial Intelligence risks and the need for better training, keeping the conversation grounded and practical.
Quixmo cards, a leading provider of professional ID card solutions for businesses, hospitals, schools, and organizations and computer and accessories provider, SAG systems, sponsored the programme.
Over the next week, KATH will host seminars, hands-on training, and discussions to turn awareness into action.
