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Tag: Health Workers

  • Health workers affected by dam spillage must be supported – NDC Volta tells govt

    Health workers affected by dam spillage must be supported – NDC Volta tells govt

    The Volta Region branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued an urgent appeal to the government to offer crucial assistance to the 145 healthcare professionals impacted by the flood event resulting from the Akosombo Dam’s water spillage.

    In their statement released on Monday, October 30, the party reported that the affected health workers consist of 76 individuals in South Tongu, 51 in North Tongu, and 18 in Central Tongu.

    “This imperative assistance is crucial at the moment to empower these workers and other such essential paramedics to effectively address the health crisis facing the other thousands of victims taking refuge in safe havens and temporary shelters.

    “In the wake of this catastrophic flooding incident, our health workers especially have shown unwavering dedication and commitment to the welfare and recovery of our fellow citizens who have become victims. They have since the disaster been conspicuous on the front lines, tirelessly working to provide medical care, essential services, and support to the affected individuals and communities,” portions of the statement read.

    The party also outlined four key areas where they believe the government should concentrate its efforts in responding to their request.

    • Provide financial assistance to the affected health workers and other essential public sector employees to help them recover from the flood-related losses they have incurred.
    • Ensure the availability of safe and suitable accommodations for these workers and their families to alleviate the burden they currently face.
    •  Facilitate access to psychological and emotional support services to those who require same now in order to help them cope with the trauma they have witnessed.
    •  Specifically provide an immediate assistance to the Richard Novati Catholic (Comboni) Hospital, which was submerged by the flood waters and had to be completely shut down. An urgent financial and logistical intervention will not only bring the facility back on its feet and as well save the jobs of some 51 employees whose livelihoods were badly affected by the flood, but will also help them fully resume service delivery to the people in South Tongu and beyond. The current pressure being witnessed on the District Hospital facilities will thus be drastically reduced.
  • Govt has a new strategy to address exodus of health workers – Health Minister

    Govt has a new strategy to address exodus of health workers – Health Minister

    The Ministry of Health (MoH) is taking proactive steps to mitigate the mass emigration of healthcare professionals to other countries and its impact on Ghana, according to the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.

    He acknowledged that the migration of health workers was a global issue but highlighted that the MoH’s Human Resource Policy Direction aimed to bolster mechanisms for the training, deployment, retention, and reintegration of healthcare personnel to meet both local and global demands.

    Kwaku Agyeman-Manu made these remarks during his participation in the Meet-the-Press series in Accra, where he provided an overview of the Ministry’s progress in delivering quality healthcare services.

    It’s worth noting that the General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum, had revealed that a significant number of nurses were seeking approval from the GRNMA Secretariat to seek better opportunities abroad.

    In response to this, Minister Agyeman-Manu explained that the Ministry was actively engaging with local and international frameworks for healthcare workforce deployment and reintegration. Additionally, they were collaborating closely with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to streamline migration policies, addressing present and future challenges.

    These efforts, the minister emphasized, would enable Ghana to reap both financial and intellectual benefits from the international deployment of healthcare workers through mutually advantageous bilateral agreements.

    “Government started managing migration in small quantities from Ghana to Barbados. So the new strategy is that, we will engage those who need some of our nurs­es to see how best we would allow them go and work,” he said.

    Speaking on some achievements chalked by the ministry, he said the establishment of a Vaccine Institute in Ghana, represented a significant advancement in regional healthcare, “This initiative stands out as the second institute in West Africa and the sixth across the entire African continent”.

    “In August 2023 the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) was designated as a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence in Vaccines Regulatory Oversight in Africa by African Union Development Agency — New Partnership for Africa’s Development,” he said.

    The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has achieved the designation of a World Health Organization (WHO) Prequalified Quality Control Laboratory. According to the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, this designation highlights the FDA’s commitment to enhancing vaccine regulatory capabilities in African regulatory bodies. He emphasized that this achievement aligns with the President’s vision to position Ghana as a vaccine manufacturing hub for the continent.

    Minister Agyeman-Manu revealed that the FDA’s Drugs Laboratory, part of the Centre for Laboratory Services and Research, has become the first in the ECOWAS region to attain this status. With this recognition, test results issued by this laboratory will be globally acknowledged, opening doors for locally produced medicines to access international markets and supporting the facilitation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    Discussing Ghana’s roadmap to achieving universal health coverage by 2030, Minister Agyeman-Manu stressed the government’s focus on improving access to high-quality healthcare services and reducing preventable maternal, adolescent, child mortality, and disabilities.

    He also outlined the Ministry’s mandate to enhance the health status of all residents in Ghana through effective policy formulation, resource mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation. The vision of the health sector, he noted, is to have a healthy population that contributes to national development and the growth of a local health industry. This vision can be realized by promoting health and well-being and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaian residents.

    Regarding the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Minister Agyeman-Manu mentioned that the total enrollment has reached 17.2 million annual active members, representing 54.5% coverage of the population, just below the 57% target.

  • Zimbabwe to adopt laws to criminalise its health professionals working in other countries

    Zimbabwe to adopt laws to criminalise its health professionals working in other countries

    Zimbabwe will soon adopt a law that will make it unlawful for other countries to hire its health staff, according to the vice president of the country, Constantino Chiwenga.

    The move aims to prevent the loss of valuable healthcare professionals to other countries, which has been a long-standing issue for Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.

    The disappearance of medical personnel, according to Mr. Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, is equivalent to human trafficking.

    He announced harsher punishments for individuals who, in his opinion, had robbed the country of its human capital.

    “If one deliberately recruits and makes the country suffer, that’s a crime against humanity. People are dying in hospitals because there are no nurses and doctors. That must be taken seriously,” Mr Chiwenga said on Wednesday April 5 2023.

    “Zimbabwe frowns at this heinous crime which is also a grave violation of human rights,” he added.

    Local media say more than 4,000 nurses and doctors have left Zimbabwe since February 2021.

    The UK’s National Health Service has been an attractive destination for Zimbabwean doctors and nurses as wages are far higher than those paid back home.

    Last month, the UK halted the recruitment of Zimbabwean health workers after the southern African country was placed by the World Health Organisation on the red list, which denotes countries facing serious health personnel challenges.

    According to the Zimbabwe Medical Association, the country has about 3,500 doctors for a population of 15 million people.

    Zimbabwe is facing an economic crisis characterized by high inflation that has significantly reduced wages.

  • ‘I employ 7,158 workers, ask them how many they have’ – Kennedy Agyapong to competitors

    ‘I employ 7,158 workers, ask them how many they have’ – Kennedy Agyapong to competitors

    Potential flagbearer candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has questioned the skill of his competitors in the forthcoming party election.

    In a video shared by Oman Media and sighted by GhanaWeb, the presidential hopeful speaking to some delegates of the party noted that while he has created jobs to employ thousands, same cannot be said for his competitors.

    “… someone who can create businesses for everyone to get employment. For all those coming to compete, I urge you to inquire from them that you want to be president but how many jobs have you created thus far to employ our children?

    At least I have 7,158 people I have employed as workers. All the candidates coming, ask who amongst them has employed at least 300 workers,” he stated.

    According to the businessman, he shares in the struggles of the electorates amidst the current economic hardship.

    “ If you know the thinking people do, like this Christmas period having to pay my workers and the attached bonus. There is hardship in the country and money is hard to come by but I had to pay bonuses because the hardship is being felt in their homes and you can’t decide not to pay bonuses. I did not receive pay, I had to sacrifice my salary to make sure that my workers are happy.

    “So I do know how you are suffering. My mother sitting here is old and does not have the strength to work but if her son is employed she can say that she didn’t join NPP in vain. But sitting there now nothing shows her party is in power because when her son is seeking for police, immigration, fire service or prisons service recruitment he won’t get,” he added.

    The ruling NPP will later this year elect a flagbearer in the hopes of securing a victory in the 2024 presidential election.

    Ahead of the election, the likes of Kennedy Agyapong who is currently the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, the outgoing Minister for Trade and Industry Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia have emerged as the frontrunners.

    While Vice President Bawumia and Mr Kyerematen have received endorsements from several figures within the current government and the ruling party, Kennedy Agyapong has noted that such endorsements are motivated by individual interests.

    “These same people are coming to you asking that you vote for them. The MPs and ministers leading that and telling you whom to vote for are only seeking their self-interest. They behave and act as if they are the only ones created by God to enjoy. So they are coming to tell you whom to vote for amidst coercion but I am telling you bluntly that it should not today that you are going to allow someone to coerce you to vote for someone. They saw you suffer and it will not be today that they are going to tell you whom to vote for,” he stated.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Rising inflation: Portugal’s public health sector strike over pay

    The strike over rising living costs comes just a week before the final vote on the 2023 budget.

    Thousands of doctors, nurses, teachers, and civil servants in Portugal have staged a walkout to demand wage increases amid rampant inflation, putting the majority Socialist government on the defensive just a week before a final vote on the 2023 budget.

    Many schools and courts were closed on Friday across the country, hospital appointments and surgeries were cancelled, and garbage was left uncollected.

    Because of high energy prices and rising living costs, many European countries are experiencing labour unrest.

    The one-day strike was called by the Common Front of the Public Administration Union, which represents nearly half of Portugal’s 730,000 civil servants.

    “This year all workers have already lost one month’s salary due to inflation,” union coordinator Sebastiao Santana told reporters. “We are getting poorer.”

    Consumer prices

    Civil servants had a 0.9-percent pay rise in 2022, but consumer prices soared more than 10 percent year-on-year in October, the fastest pace in more than 30 years.

    “We are not on strike because we like to lose a day’s wage, we are on strike because the government has not responded to the issues we presented, mainly the need to compensate for high cost of living due to inflation,” Santana said.

    The union is demanding a 10-percent salary increase, and a minimum of 100 euros ($103.67) a month for 2023, while the government has proposed an average pay rise of 3.6 percent. The government is forecasting inflation of 4 percent next year.

    In October, the government, key business associations and the country’s second-largest labour union GUT struck a deal to raise the wages of private sector workers by 5.1 percent in 2023.

    Workers at Volkswagen’s Autoeuropa car plant entered their second day of a partial strike demanding an extraordinary pay rise. The strike at one of Portugal’s top exporters affects the first two hours of each of its four shifts.

  • Health workers to withdraw services over power outages

    The Coalition of Health Workers on Krobo Land has appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to restore power to the area for smooth health delivery.

    The health workers who are made up of anaesthetists, doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory scientists, and pharmacists added that they will be forced to leave work at exactly 4 pm due to the power outages.

    The affected health facilities include Atua Government Hospital, St Martins Hospital, Yilo District hospital, Somanya policlinic and the various CHPS and health centres within the affected area.

    According to them, the darkness they are plunged into has given room to some criminals and hooligans to rob, harass, and ill-treat some of the health workers who lived in hard-to-reach areas.

    Speaking to Naa Dedei Tetteh on the Morning Starr on Tuesday, the Municipal Health Director, Dr. Irena Offei, expressed worry on how the power cut is affecting health delivery in the area.

    “As you have seen the power outage happened on 27th of July at 10:30 pm so we were hoping that the light would be restored the following morning but unfortunately as I talk to you no power has been restored.

    “Both Municipalities Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo have been affected since last Friday and today is the last day. We are doing COVID-19 vaccination so you can imagine our trouble of sending the vaccines in the freezers to nearby facilities which are not that close,” Dr. Irena narrated.

    She continued: “Every morning as protocol demands we have to check the temperature of the fridges and we have charge and see if the vaccines are okay and give them to the vaccine team. So every morning the car has to travel to the facility to pick up the vaccine.

    “In the office, we are running on a generator and for now all the cost of fuel is taken from the internally generated fund from the facilities. The most dangerous thing is we are running on generators and their machines which can spoil at any point and time.”

    The Health Director stated that most facilities now run on generators which is affecting smooth health delivery.

    “Assuming you have a case at the theater and the surgery is ongoing and the only generator that you are using for that surgery goes off, what will you do? This is very serious for our hospital and as much as possible they have also stopped using all the theaters and referred all the cases to other health facilities within the region.

    “My passionate appeal and plea to the government and to the management of ECG is to restore the power to Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo and the affected communities. So that we can continue to provide quality health service to our cherished clients and patients.”

    Source: Ghanaweb via starrfm

  • Don’t fear victimization; make complaints against health professionals – GMA urges Ghanaians

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has urged Ghanaians to file complaints of mistreatment and neglect against any and all health professionals who act unprofessional in the discharge of their duty.

    The Association noted that health professionals exist solely for the well-being of patients and need to be sanctioned if they behave otheriwse.

    The President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Frank Ankobea in an interview earlier today noted that hospitals have various ways of addressing patient concerns and advised patients and their families to take advantage of that.

    In an interview on the Happy Morning Show with host, Samuel Eshun, Dr. Ankobea said, “there are channels one can use to address problems and concerns in hospitals and patients must take advantage of them”.

    He noted that patients will continuously suffer mistreatment if they make no complaints as these unprofessional health practitioners will keep on repeating their actions.

    Dr. Ankobea believes these complaints can be escalated further if the hospitals refuse to take any actions against their staff.

    “If your complaints are not addressed by the hospital, you then go to the various regulatory bodies and press charges. Ghanaians must know that one can make these complaints without suffering any victimization”.

    On his authority, a discussion on the rights of patients should be made a priority. “We need to start educating patients on how they can protect their rights. This is the time and we should start now”, he said.

    Source: e.TV Ghana

  • Mathias Hospital suspends services to Kojo Boffour residents over attack on staff

    Management of the St Mathias Catholic Hospital in Yeji in the Pru East District of the Bono East region has suspended services to residents of Kojo Boffour, a suburb of Yeji.

    The hospital says it has with immediate effect suspended non-emergency and mortuary services to the Kojo Boffour township.

    The decision by management comes after some residents from the area stormed the hospital and forcefully removed the remains of a person suspected to have died of COVID-19 from the morgue on Friday, August 7, 2020.

    The angry residents also attacked some staff of the hospital who have been left traumatised by the attack.

    A management member of the hospital, Revered Father Kojo Adjei Boadu who confirmed the news to Ghanaweb revealed that they have taken the decision to crack down on lawless that has often been meted out to the staff of the hospital.

    He revealed that residents of Kojo Boffour have become noted for such attacks and called for stiffer punishment to be meted out to the perpetrators to deter such occurrences in future.

    “Going forward, the Kojo Boffour community located in Yeji in the Pru East District will not be receiving services from the Mathias Hospital. These services are non-emergency services and mortuary services. This has come about because of an incident that took place on Friday.

    “There was an issue concerning a body that was brought in here dead. We actually spoke to the family to allow the due process on COVID-19 to be followed but they insisted that they wanted the body. All of a sudden, the youth came around 4:00 pm, beat the security man, and took the body away”.

    The St Mathias Catholic Hospital renders services to residents in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal, Pru West District, Pru East District and Savannah Region.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bono Region: 231 Health workers with COVID-19 recover

    All 231 health workers in the Bono Region who contracted COVID-19 have recovered, the acting Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Amo Kodie, has disclosed.

    According to him, the 231 health workers represented 53.6 per cent of the total of 426 cases so far recorded in the region and explained that all recovered health workers had returned to work.

    Dr Kodie was speaking to the Daily Graphic after addressing the Annual Mini Congress of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) at Abesim on the theme: “Combating COVID-19: The role of National Service Personnel.”

    As part of the congress, the association donated some COVID-19 safety and hygiene products to some senior high schools and the Electoral Commission (EC) to support the ongoing compilation of the new voters register in the Sunyani Municipality.

    No death

    Dr Kodie said the region had not registered any COVID-19 related death or recorded any severe case as most of the cases, including the health workers were managed at home.

    He explained that the Sunyani Regional Hospital, the Wenchi Methodist Hospital and the Berekum Holy Family Hospital had been earmarked as isolation centres in the region.

    According to him, the recovery rate in the region was almost 100 per cent, emphasising that only one of the victims was currently in isolation.

    Dr Kodie explained that people with hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, over weight and other immune diseases were more vulnerable to COVID-19 and therefore cautioned such people to protect themselves from contracting the disease.

     

     

    Accept posting

    The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mrs Justina Owusu Banahene, challenged the personnel to accept posting to rural communities and develop positive mindsets toward the development of the country by giving of their best at their various institutions.

    She charged the personnel to add innovative ideas to the skills and knowledge they had acquired in their various institutions to support the progress of the country.

    Impact on economy

    For his part, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, said COVID-19 had negatively affected the global economy, explaining that there had been significant job losses as a result of the collapsing of businesses.

    He said the government had taken proper action and rolled out various important programmes and policies to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic in the country and called on the public to support the government in the fight against the disease.

    “Each Ghanaian including you and I have a responsibility to protect or stop the spread of the virus by observing the existing safety protocols,” Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh stated.

    He said since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government had put in place several interventions to protect citizens and mentioned the establishment of the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, closure of borders, tracing and testing and the institution of lockdown in some parts of the country.

    Stigmatisation

    Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh appealed to the public to stop stigmatising COVID-19 patients or persons who had recovered from the disease and challenged the service personnel to be ambassadors in their communities.

    Welcoming the gathering, the National President of the association, Mr Owusu Afriye Osei, said they chose the theme in order to use the national service week celebration to assist in the fight against the spread of the disease.

    He said the association decided that every district should donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the various district or community health facilities to help halt the spread of the virus.

    “When the community is protected, the service personnel there will likewise be sheltered,” Mr Osei stated.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • COVID-19: Korle-Bu suspends urgent cases over spike in staff infection

    The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) says it will no longer attend to urgent cases due to a spike in COVID-19 infection among its staff.

    In a memo sighted by Citi News, the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs, said a majority of the staff at the surgical areas are currently self-isolating.

    The memo indicated that the suspension will be in force for two weeks.

    “There has been a recent surge of COVID-19 infections among staff working in the Surgical areas. This has necessitated self-isolation of majority of these staff. Hence a decision has been taken to suspend all urgent cases for two (2) weeks. All emergency cases will continue as before,” the memo said.

    Meanwhile, the Head of Public Affairs at the facility, Mustapha Salifu in a statement says the suspension of urgent services will afford the hospital the chance to reorganize itself “for the resumption of regular services.”

    He added in his statement that the hospital will for the next two weeks attend to “only dire emergencies.”

    “We therefore request sister health facilities to refer only dire surgical emergencies (Surgery, ENT, Maxillofacial and Obstetrics) to Korle Bu during the suspension period. Other parts of the Hospital are still in full operation,” he noted in his statement.

    Read the full statement below:

    SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF NON-EMERGENCY SURGICAL CASES

    The Hospital Administration has decided to suspend non-emergency surgical cases for the next two weeks. This is necessitated by the fact that some staff have been infected with Covid-19.
    This measure is therefore to protect our clients and the rest of the staff who are still at post and providing care to patients.

    The suspension will also enable us reorganize ourselves for the resumption of regular services. Only dire emergencies will be attended to within this period. We therefore request sister health facilities to refer only dire surgical emergencies (Surgery, ENT, Maxillofacial and Obstetrics) to Korle Bu during the suspension period. Other parts of the Hospital are still in full operation.
    Thank you.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Government sets aside GH¢ 8 million for coronavirus frontline health workers

    Mr Charles Adu Boahen, Deputy Minister of Finance has told Parliament that government has set aside GH?8 million to be paid as the COVID-19 Special Allowance designated for frontline health workers.

    He said the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance are together compiling data and doing the necessary reconciliation to determine particularly health sector workers designated as the frontline workers and eligible for the package.

    He said the reconciliation exercise was ongoing and as soon as it was completed the payment would start.

    Mr Adu Boahen made the statement when he appeared before the Parliament to answer to an urgent question by Mr Emmanuel Kpodo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central on when government would pay the designated frontline health workers the COVID-19 Special Allowance of 50 percent of their basic salary.

    In March, 2020 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced incentive packages for the health sector workers as part of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, readiness and response action.

    Mr Adu Boahen also explained that there were many health workers spread all over the country performing various roles and the challenge was to determine those who actually qualified as frontline workers and at risk, for the government to pay them.

    In a supplementary question by Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, MP for Adaklu on when payment for the package would start, Mr Adu Boahen responded that he did not want to give any timelines, but gave an assurance that the ministry would complete the validation exercise after which the payment would start.

    “Mr Speaker, as I said, we have set aside the money already, but the challenge is to ascertain the eligibility and definition of who a frontline worker is,” he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Government extends incentive packages for frontline health workers

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended by three months the incentive packages for frontline health workers.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday, June 28, 2020, the president said, “this means that all health workers will pay no income taxes for the next three months, i.e. July, August and September.

    “Again, all frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of fifty per cent (50%) of their basic salary per month, i.e. for July, August and September.”

    He added, the implementation of this directive for the months of April, May and June have been fraught with some challenges, caused, mainly, by the protracted discussions over the definition of who qualifies as “frontline health workers” in this context.

    “I have, however, been assured that they have now been resolved, and payments will be affected from the end of June. I should reiterate that the insurance package for health workers is still in place,” Akufo-Addo stated.

    The President, however, urged the frontline health workers to remain professional and compassionate in their handling of COVID-19 cases. “Every avoidable death, be it corona-related or not, is a tragedy.”

    He, therefore, reminded Ghanaians to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols i.e. the enhanced social distancing and hygiene protocols which will not only save lives but also prevent the healthcare infrastructure from being overburdened.

    “Let us wash our hands with soap under running water, use alcohol-based sanitizers, maintain the protocols on social distancing, avoid person-to-person contact, eat our local foods that boost our immune systems, and, yes, wear masks at all times when we leave our homes.

    “These are the weapons of our battle. We must keep our guard up at all times, and see to it that sooner, rather than later, COVID-19 becomes nothing but a blip on our forward march to sustained development, progress and prosperity,” Akufo-Addo said.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 17 nurses, doctors quarantined after woman dies of coronavirus at Atibie

    A woman has died from Coronavirus in Atibie Government Hospital in Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.

    The deceased, from Nkawkaw, went to the Atibie Hospital to seek healthcare since most health facilities in Nkawkaw are full following admission of over 100 Coronavirus patients.

    While on admission, the woman reportedly started showing symptoms of Covid-19. Her samples were subsequently taken for testing but she reportedly passed on before the results were released.

    At an emergency health Committee meeting on Wednesday, the District Health Directorate announced that 17 health workers including doctors and nurses at Atibie Government Hospital have been quarantined with their samples taken for testing.

    Also, the Female Ward at the facility has been temporarily closed down for fumigation.

    Contact tracing has commenced in the community and the house where the woman lived.

    This is the first confirmed case recorded in Kwahu South District though its neighbouring Kwahu West has recorded 105 cases as of Wednesday.

    Eastern Region recorded its highest cases of Coronavirus in a single day on June 23, 2020. A total of forty-five (45) new confirmed cases of the were recorded in four (4) Municipalities increasing the regional case count to 452.

    Twenty-One (21) new cases were recorded in Lower Manya Krobo while eight were recorded in Asuogyaman Kwahu West. Okere recorded 15 and 1 confirmed cases respectively.

     

    Total fatalities recorded in the region are 7.

    Out of the 452 persons tested positive for Coronavirus, 153 are health workers.

    Breakdown of the confirmed Covid-19 case for the region are:

    Lower Manya Krobo -104 (72 discharged)
    Kwahu West -102 cases (24 discharged)
    New Juaben South -46 (37 discharged)
    Birim North -43 (5 discharged )
    Nsawam Adoagyiri -23 (7 discharged)
    Akuapem North -22 (16 discharged )
    Asuogyaman 21(13 discharged)
    West Akim -19 (5 discharged)
    Denkyembuor -18(15 discharged)
    Birim Central -13 (5 discharged)
    New Juaben North -9 (1discahrged )
    Abuakwa North -8(4 discharged)
    Fanteakwa North -6 (all discharged)
    Birim South -4 (1 discharged)
    Suhum -3 (all discharged)
    Kwaebibirem -3 (2 discharged)
    Achiase -2 (all discharged)
    Upper Manya Krobo -2(all discharged)
    Akuapem South -1 (discharged)
    Ayensuano -1 (still on admission )
    Yilo Krobo -1 (still on admission)
    Okere -1 (discharged)

    Meaning out of the 452 confirmed cases, 222 have been discharged.

    Ghana recorded 445 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.This pushes the total national tally to 15,013.

    The number of recoveries now stands at 11,078 while death toll at 95.

     

    Source: Starr FM

  • Dominase SDA Hospital staff buy own PPE for coronavirus fight

    Some health workers at Dominase SDA Hospital in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have purchased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth GHS10,000 from their voluntary contributions.

    The cash was contributed by medical doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health workers, chaplains, orderlies and security personnel of the facility to augment the fight against COVID-19.

    On Wednesday, 15 April 2020; management of the facility set up a committee to solicit alms from staff and the general public to buy PPE.

    The chairman of the COVID-19 Fund Committee, Mr. Adu Gyamfi Boadi explained that they were motivated by the urgent need to buy PPE to protect hospital staff and clients from contracting the deadly virus.

    He told Class News’ Maxwell Attah that 30 pieces of face shield with mask, 10 cartoons of hand sanitizers, four boxes of a surgical mask, four automatic-hand-sanitizer dispenser, three pulse oximetres, 1,200 reusable face masks, among others were purchased from the fund.

    He remarked that government alone cannot afford to supply all the needed PPE to the hospital, adding, “so we have to buy some to protect ourselves. As health workers, and we have done this, it will motivate others to come and help us.”

    So far, one medical doctor at Kwadaso SDA Hospital has died after 97 health workers in the region were infected with COVID-19.

    The Principal Health Administrator of the facility, Mr. Thomas Asamoah appealed to civil society organizations, NGOs and philanthropists to support health facilities with cash and PPE to protect their staff.

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Health worker dies from coronavirus as 49 others test positive

    A health worker in the Eastern Region has died from Coronavirus.

    This brings to two the number of fatalities recorded in the region after a Senior Police officer died from the disease on May 29,2020.

    Meanwhile, the number of health workers who have tested positive have increased from 30 to 49.

    Statistics by the Eastern Regional Health Directorate dated June 10, 2020, indicate the regional case Count has increased from 198 to 208.

    The additional confirmed cases were recorded in West Akim (4), New Juaben South (3), Denkyembuor (2) and Birim Central (1).

    Bellow is the Eastern Regional Breakdown of cases by
    Districts/ Municipalities.

    1) Lower Manya Krobo-75

    2) New Juaben South 32

    3) Kwawu West- 23

    4) Akuapim North-15

    5) Denkyembour- 14

    6) Asuogyaman- 13

    7) Nsawam Adoagyiri- 7

    8) Fanteakwa North -6

    9) Birim North -6

    10) West Akim- 5

    11) Birim Central- 4

    12) Suhum- 3

    13) Achiase- 2

    14) Akuapim South -1

    15) Abuakwa North-1

    16) Upper Manya Krobo-1

     

    Source: Starr FM

  • Landlords threaten health workers with ejection

    Landlords at New Edubiase in the Adansi South District are threatening to eject health workers from their houses for fear of being infected with the deadly coronavirus.

    Dr Allah Tiertoore, Medical Superintendent of the New Edubiase government hospital, who made this known said the incessant threats of ejection was affecting the moral of the health workers in the community.

    Dr Tiertoore made this known when Oguahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang, the chief of New Edubiase presented quantities of Personal Protective Equipment to the facility and the community to support the fight against the spread of the virus.

    He said stigmatization associated with the disease was becoming too much in the area and appealed to the chief to intervene to prevent the landlords from carrying out their threat.

    Dr Tiertoore said the items would motivate the health workers to continue with their hard work to provide quality health care to the people.

    He urged the landlords to follow the good steps of the chief and support health workers to contain the further spread of the disease in the area instead of threatening them with ejections.

    Oguahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang, said the items which included; hand sanitizers, gloves, Veronica buckets, liquid soaps and others, were to support the frontline health workers and the people in the community to protect themselves against catching and spreading the virus in the area.

    Adansi South district had already confirmed three cases of the coronavirus and the increasing spread of the virus in Obuasi, a neighbouring district makes it imperative for all key stakeholders, including; the traditional authorities, to put their acts together to stop further spread of the virus in the area.

    Oguahyia Birikorang said he was worried about the outbreak of the virus in the district and the spread from Obuasi.

    The only solution, according to him was for the people to adhere to all the preventive and restrictive protocols to stay safe and prevent further spread.

    He appealed to landlords to stop the threat since the health workers were in the community in their own interest.

    The chief also appealed to the people to make maximum use of the items by washing their hands regularly and observe social distancing by avoiding other activities that could expose them to the virus.

     

    Source: GNA 

  • Health workers desert death-trap quarters at Sumbrungu

    Resident Health workers at the Sumbrungu Health Centre in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East Region, have deserted a dilapidated quarters, they described as a death trap.

    They presently commute from their various houses to the Health Centre whenever they are on duty, creating stress and adversely affecting service delivery in the area.

    When the Ghana News Agency visited the facility, it was observed that the quarters was not only too small to house all the health workers posted to the facility, but was in a deplorable state and therefore endangered the lives of the occupants.

    It had several cracks, with parts of the roof ripping up, while some parts of the ceiling was rotten with water collected in the rooms.

    Mr Raymond Azalbila Adoganga, the Principal Physician Assistant of the Health Centre told GNA in an interview that the Sumbrungu East Sub Municipality had seven health facilities in addition to the Health Centre and with the exception of the Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compound at the Bolgatanga Technical University, staff accommodation of the remaining facilities were in a bad state, posing risks to them.

    “We had a resident midwife, a resident General Nurse and two resident community health nurses, who were staying in the quarters, but just last week they had to park home due to the bad nature of the accommodation,” he stated.

    Mr Adoganga said the staff accommodation in various facilities harboured reptiles and bees, and compelled the workers especially those who work at the Health Centre to park to their houses in Bolgatanga.

    “The midwife at Azorebiisi facility, on two occasions, killed snakes on her bed and the resident community health nurse also killed one in her room and at Aguusi CHPS compound, on two occasions, I was chased away by bees. So almost all the health facilities have serious staff accommodation challenges,” he lamented.

    He said although the health workers practised shift system, they usually offered back up services to those on duty especially on days and periods when the facility recorded higher attendants and emergency situations.

    He said the Health Centre alone averagely recorded 60 attendants daily but during the third quarter, July, August and September, it recorded about 80 to 100 attendants each day due to the usual increase of malaria cases during the rainy season.

    It served over 13,000 people each year and was also challenged with office space. The facility is a single structure with five rooms and has about four units working in one room, while the waiting area is exposed to direct sun light.

    Mr Adoganga said “the only consulting room is about 10 by 10 metres, the counts unit is sharing space with the records, dressing and claims departments. When you go to the next room, we have the dispensary, the laboratory and a detention area in that single room. In the third room we have our reproductive and child health services, family planning, prevention of mother and child transmission and cold chain management while the fourth room also has four units.”

    He said several appeals including; written letters were sent to the appropriate authorities including; the Municipal Health Directorate and the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly but nothing was done.

    When the GNA contacted Mr Joseph Amiyuure, the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, he admitted that the Assembly was aware of the situation of the Health Centre, but failed to comment on whether or not something would be done especially on the staff accommodation at the Health Centre.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Frontline health workers will be remembered in our history Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has lauded frontline health workers aiding the fight against Covid-19 in the country.

    In his address to the nation on Sunday, May 10, 2020, he expressed his satisfaction and appreciation towards the relentless efforts made by these health workers to treat and control the spread of the virus.

    “Let me, once again, thank the healthcare workers, including all those responsible for the tracing, testing and treating, for their heroic contribution to the fight against the pandemic. They will be long remembered in our history”, he stated.

    He said, while all measures including tax exemptions put in place for the frontline health workers still hold, government is committed to providing the necessary essentials needed in the fight against the virus.

    “In addition to the incentive package instituted for all healthcare workers, Government has so far distributed the following to healthcare facilities across the country: four million, two hundred and forty thousand, seven hundred and nineteen (4,240,719) gloves; two million, five hundred and seventy-six thousand, three hundred and thirty-three (2,576,333) nose masks; sixty thousand, eight hundred and twenty-three (60,823) goggles; sixty thousand, one hundred and thirty-two (60,132) litres of sanitizers; fifty thousand, seven hundred and seventy (50,770) head covers; forty one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-two (41,992) gowns; forty-one thousand (41,000) medical scrubs; and thirty thousand, seven hundred and eighty-three (30,783) N-95 face masks.

    “Further, we have extended this gesture to other frontline actors engaged in the fight, with the presentation of five thousand (5,000) PPEs to members of the media, and tomorrow, Monday, 11th May, ten thousand domestically-produced face masks and more money will be delivered to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), to enhance its capacity to undertake the important work it is already doing.”

    The President also used the platform to send a congratulatory message to the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association as it celebrates its 60th anniversary on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Health Services Workers Union in Ashanti bares teeth at government

    Ashanti Regional branch of the Health Services Workers Union has thrown its weight behind their national union for immediate redress of their working conditions or face their wrath.

    The Union says the freeze of the market premium is discriminatory compared to other public servants who earn market premium.

    Read: National Service Rotation Nurses declare strike over unpaid allowances

    Their unresolved issues include poor working conditions, denial of yearly incremental notches, Salary distortions under Single Spine Salary Structure, wrong placement of medical physicists and non-implementation of national health laboratory policy and few others.

    Ashanti Regional Industrial relations Officer, Stephen Mensah addressing the media in Kumasi described the freeze of the market premium as arbitrary and discriminatory.

    “With the introduction of Single Spine Salary Structure, market premium was introduced as a percentage of our basic pay to take care of living cost allowance and ADHA. The market premium by convention is to change when salaries are reviewed.

    Read: Eastern Regional Health Services Workers Union threatens strike action

    “In our case, the market premium has remained static since 2012,” he stated.

    The Health Services Workers Union indicated that without justification, some of their members have been denied yearly incremental notches.

    They said some of their members since been migrated unto the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2012 have been deprived of their yearly increment.

    Another concern raised by the Union was the wrongful placement of medical physicists.

    The Union pointed out that the SSS did not make provisions for these categories of staff and are placed below their training and qualifications.

    They have given government a two-week ultimatum to resolve their grievances

    “We are entreating the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Controller and Accountant General and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to immediately address our grievances or we shall speak the language they best understand”

     

    Source: 3news.com