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Tag: PPE

  • Coronavirus: GRA donates PPEs to 160 selected schools

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Wednesday donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to 160 selected schools to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The items are 640 handwashing units, 480 gallons of liquid soap, and 320 packs of tissue.

    Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the Deputy Minister of Education, received the items and presented them to Professor Kwasi Opoku- Amankwa, the Director-General of Ghana Education Service, for onward distribution to the schools.

    Reverend Ammishaddai Owusu- Amoah, the Commissioner-General, GRA said the gesture was part of the Authority’s corporate social responsibility to respond to the needs of the students in protecting them from the New Delta Variant of the pandemic.

    He said the Authority, over the years, had supported schools in diverse ways to improve teaching and learning to help in the development of the country.

    The Commissioner-General said even though the Authority aimed to collect revenue for the country’s development, it was necessary to respond to societal needs for national growth.

    He said the gesture would endure, adding that the Authority would continue to partner with the Ministry of Education to support underserved schools in the country.

    Rev Owusu-Amoah advised the students to take their lessons seriously and observe the COVID-19 health protocols to protect themselves from the virus.

    Rev Fordjour commended the Authority for the gesture and appealed to other corporate organisations to support in curbing the virus.

    He said since the outbreak of the pandemic, the government had made huge investments through the purchase of vaccines and provision of PPEs to protect the lives of the citizenry.

    The gesture, the Minister, said would imbue in the students the civic duty of paying tax and remaining law-abiding for the development of the country.

    He said the government would soon deploy the COVID-19 Tracker to monitor and track cases of the virus for the prompt response and called for stakeholder’s support for the initiative to be successful.

    Source: GNA

  • No school will be left out in the distribution of PPE GES

    The Ghana Education Service has asked school heads and parents to exercise patience as they ensure that every school benefits from the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the county.

    The GES has said that no school in the country will be left out in the distribution of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) following the resumption of schools amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The Ghana Education Service press statement follows the agitations and concerns raised by some parents and school heads that some schools are not benefiting from the distribution of personal protective kits after reopening.

    However, responding to these concerns raised by various stakeholders, the Public Relations Officer of GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo in an interview with Citi TV called for calm as they continue the distribution of the PPEs.

    “The distribution of the PPE is ongoing, and as of now some schools have not had some, but I will urge them to calm down. No school will be left out.”

    “Once we have started distribution, and they are aware that public schools are getting the PPE, they will also get theirs. They should wait patiently while the delivery gets to their end,” she concluded.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Suspend reopening of basic schools if PPE are not ready IFEST

    The Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) is calling on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to suspend the reopening of basic schools till all relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are distributed to all schools in the country.

    IFEST described as “completely unacceptable” that, most of the basic schools are yet to receive any form of PPE as promised by the relevant authorities.

    “It is even more shocking because the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service have had the privilege of experiencing the challenges that bedevilled the sharing of this PPE during the partial reopening, last year and should have started the distribution long ago before the reopening date.

    “Unfortunately, pupils have had to report to school today without the needed PPE at a time when Covid-19 is in the ascendency in the country,” the group alleged in a statement.

    The statement comes as schools resumed today, Monday, 18 January 2021 with a call on students and teachers to obey the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    IFEST noted that without PPE both teachers and students are at risk of Covid infection.

    “We are, therefore, calling on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to suspend the reopening till all schools have received the needed PPE,” the statement said.

    It also called on parents and guardians to provide their wards with at least a nose mask and hand sanitiser to enable them to stick to the protocols.

    “We believe that the words of those in authority are supposed to be backed by concrete actions and that the practice of having a discrepancy between what a policy directive is and practical happenings on the ground should come to a halt,” the statement added.

    Source: Class FM

  • National treasury halts emergency procurement of PPE

    National Treasury Director-General Dondo Mogajane says an instruction will be issued to government departments across all spheres to halt the emergency procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) as the State tightens the lid against corruption.

    At a joint virtual meeting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces Finance Committees on Wednesday, Mogajane said the demand and supply of PPE had somewhat eased compared to the early stages of the outbreak.

    “[PPE is] easily available and we have boosted local production… The local production of face shields and masks… is now in place after a few months of challenges in terms of how companies in South Africa could [participate in production],” said Mogajane.

    The instruction to halt the emergency procurement of PPE comes as calls mount for all allegations of corruption, in relation to COVID-19 relief funds, be investigated and those responsible to be brought to book.

    The allegations have over the past two weeks been a point of concern among many citizens, with some expressing their outrage on social media.

    In his weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said corruption during a national disaster is a particularly heinous type of crime, and perpetrators are going to be dealt with decisively and harshly.

    Mogajane said with the halting of emergency procurement, the instruction will request all departments to revert to procurement processes that are compliant with all existing instructions for procurement.

    National Treasury, Mogajane said, will lock the absolute price for all PPE and listed protective clothing procurement. Permission will have to be sought for any amount above the absolute price.

    Institutions will be asked to provide National Treasury with the names of all PPE and protective clothing appointed service providers for publishing on the Treasury website.

    Bringing culprits to book

    Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said the instruction previously issued by National Treasury in relation to all COVID-19 procurement has not been adhered to.

    While it is important for accounting officers to adhere to the Treasury instruction, Mboweni said it was equally important for executive authorities – Ministers, MECs and Mayors – to hold accounting officers accountable.

    He said it is now up to law enforcement agencies to follow up on companies that were awarded tenders in order to find any wrongdoing and to bring the culprits to book.

    “One of the key issues is whether some of the companies, which were awarded these contracts, were properly registered with the company registration office. Were they registered with SARS? Did they go through a competitive process?

    “The administrative investigation has to show us that indeed this was done and that the companies competed for these contracts, and these particular companies won the contracts on the basis of merit scores. They have to demonstrate that to us.

    “In the meantime, I am having a conversation again [on Thursday] with the MECs of Finance to try to find out whether all these processes were followed or not, and if they were not followed, why they were not followed. Who broke the rules?

    “In my conversation with the MECs of Finance, we are going to discuss and insist on the fact that all these contracts must be published for the public to see. In publishing who won which contract, we will also want to know who were the competitors, and on which basis did the competitors lose.

    “We would be interested to know about the age of the companies. Were they formed [recently] or [have they been around for long]?”

    Towards the end of July, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit to probe, in any State institution, allegations of corruption related to the COVID-19 national State of Disaster.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Asankragua trainee nurses accuse Principal of extortion

    Final-year trainees at the Asankragua Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Western Region are accusing the Principal, Jessie Asiedua Aduako, of extorting monies from them in the name of fighting the spread of Covid-19.

    According to the trainee nurses, the Principal is charging students between GH¢1,000 and GH¢2,000 for the few months they have left to complete their training.

    The trainee nurses allege that not much has been seen on campus despite assurances by authorities that the monies are being used to procure personal protective equipment (PPEs) in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    A few Veronica buckets are the only equipment to be seen on campus, the students claim.

    The Principal is reported as saying the funds made available to the College are not sufficient; hence the fees to complement the provision by government.

    The trainees claim the situation is affecting their studies as some have opted to relocate to neighbouring communities to avoid the payment of some of these “exorbitant” fees.

    Efforts to reach the Principal to ascertain the allegations proved futile.

    Meanwhile, the College has not recorded any cases of Covid-19.

    However, samples from all the suspected cases came out negative.

    The trainees involved were immediately isolated until the test results were brought in.

     

    Source: 3 News

  • Government lied on claims PPEs were supplied all schools GNAT

    The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has said government lied when it said personal protective equipment (PPEs) were supplied to the various senior high schools before reopening in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    President of GNAT Ms Phillapa Larsen told Alfred Ocansey on Sunrise on 3FM Tuesday, July 14 that some schools were not provided with the PPEs before they reopened.

    The schools had to rely on the parents to supply their wards with nose masks way before the government started supplying the others.

    “They said without the PPEs the doors of the schools were not going to be opened. Unfortunately, the school reopened without PPEs but the schools managed. They have done a few things especially with the Veronica buckets, the soaps and the rest. The parents also did well by providing some nose masks.

    “That is what the schools managed until government supplied the PPEs to the schools.

    “Are we saying that one mask per student that is the end to this problem? Then it means as a country we lied, as a country we have not been honest because people in positions have mentioned that all the PPEs have been supplied,” she said.

    She further suggested to the government to conduct mass testing for all students and staff in the senior high schools (SHSs) that have recorded cases of the Coronavirus.

    Ms Larsen said it will be better for all the other students and staff in the affected schools to know their status in order not to spread the virus.

    Source: 3 News

  • Seven Health Centres receive PPE from COVID-19 National Trust Fund

    Seven Treatment and Health Centres in the Western, Central, and the Western North Regions have received Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other medical items to support the management and treatment of COVID-19 cases.

    This is in fulfillment of the cardinal objectives of the COVID-19 Trust Fund which is to support persons engaged in the combat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The items for distribution include infrared thermometer guns, scrub suit, head covers, all sizes of coveralls, heavy-duty aprons, utility gloves, examination gloves, sterile gloves, gynaecological gloves, N95 face masks, surgical face masks, goggles, among others.

    The beneficiary institutions are the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, Dunkwa Government Hospital, Axim Government Hospital, Tarkwa Government Hospital, and the St. John of God Hospital in Sefwi Wiawso.

    Speaking at a short ceremony to present the items, Madam Gifty Afenyi Dadzie, a Member of the Board of Trustees said the items formed part of a consignment worth ten million Ghana cedis to be distributed to institutions and individuals who are directly engaged in the combat of COVID-19 across the length and breadth of the country.

    She said, despite government efforts and other benevolent institutions to adequately equip and protect the dedicated front-line workers in the combat against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Trustees have monitored media reports and heard complaints from a lot of health professionals concerning the lack or inadequate supply of PPE and other logistics needed for the combat of the COVID-19 disease.

    She added that the distribution was therefore meant to help fill the gap or shortfall in the supply of PPE and other medical items to front-line workers for the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    She bemoaned that the exponential rise in the COVID-19 cases should be a concern to all and called on the populace to adhere to the protocols which have been put up by the WHO, Ghana Health Service, and other experts towards the containment of the disease.

    Mrs Dadzie noted that the protocols which are the washing of hands under running water, sanitizing of hand with an alcohol-based sanitizer, the wearing of face Masks, avoiding crowded places and observing social distancing protocols were the surest ways to control the spread of the virus.

    Mrs Eugenia Gifty Kusi, Deputy Western Regional Minister pointed out that the disease was causing a lot of havoc hence, all must commit to fighting the disease With all seriousness.

    “Let’s all know that the disease is real and not a hoax which we must accept and come together to stem the spread of the virus which is moving at an alarming rate, especially in the Western Region”.

    Dr Joseph K Tambil Medical Director in charge of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital who spoke on behalf of the beneficiary Hospitals commended President Akufo-Addo for setting up the Fund and also the board to steer the affairs of the Fund to success and promised to commit them to good use to serve its purpose.

    He also called on the beneficiary hospitals to release some to other facilities that may need them to benefit all.

    Source: GNA

  • Professor Gyampo donates PPEs to Saltpond Hospital

    Renowned Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, Prof Ransford Gyampo, who is also an indigene of Saltpond and President of the Saltpond Forum, has donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) to the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Saltpond Government Hospital on Thursday 9th July 2020.

    The items include packs of face masks and several cartons of hand sanitizers.

    In 2017, Prof Gyampo, it will be recalled, adopted the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Saltpond Government hospital and has since, taken keen interest in the effective functioning of the Ward. He has donated several hospital equipment to the Ward including Wheelchairs, beds, mattresses, surgical devices, medical protective wears, aprons, foot-wears, laptops and other equipment needed at the emergency ward of the hospital.

    Presenting the PPEs to the medical superintendent of the hospital, Prof Gyampo said, the gesture was merely part of his routine commitment to ensuring that the Ward functions well. He expressed worry that close to 80 persons had been diagnosed as by the hospital as COVID-19 positive, and stressed the need to support and protect frontline staff at the Ward, to ensure that they do their best for patients.

    Prof Gyampo also called on the District Assemblies to be proactive in fashioning out public education and sensitization drive to create and deepen public awareness of COVID-19 among people at the local communities and grassroots. In particular, he noted that his interaction with some of the local people in the Mfantseman community show that their awareness and the need for them to fully embrace safety protocols, were limited. He, therefore, called on the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly to step up its game in ensuring massive sensitization on COVID-19 Preventive Protocols, among the indigenes of Saltpond and a Mfantseman. He called on government to ensure a proper decentralization of the fight against COVID-19,, as majority of Ghanaians reside in the rural communities.

    Receiving the donation from Prof Gyampo, the Medical Superintendent of the Saltpond Hospital, Dr MIchael Danso, thanked Prof Gyampo for his sense of responsivenes, commitment and philanthropy towards his adopted Ward in the hospital. He noted that the donation was timely and pledged that the items received, would be put to good use to ensure safety and security among patients who visit the hospital and all frontline workers of the Accident and Emergency Ward, as well as the entire hospital.

    Source: Professor Ransford Gyampo

  • 19 doctors at Tamale Teaching Hospital reportedly test positive for coronavirus

    Information gathered by DGN Online indicates that 19 medical doctors of the Tamale Teaching Hospital have tested positive for Covid-19.

    DGN Online understands one is in critical condition and under treatment currently at the facility.

    The Director of Medical Affairs of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Abass Adam who confirm this to DGN Online said a total of 32 health workers have contracted the Covid-19 virus in the facility.

    He noted that the 32 health workers involved 19 doctors, 12 nurses and one orderly.

    The Director of Medical Affairs, however, revealed that some of them have been treated and discharged whiles others are still on treatment.

    “80 health workers of the facility who were exposed have been tested but the results came out negative.”

    He called on the public to strictly adhere to the health protocols to help stop the spread of the virus.

    Meanwhile, some health workers at the Tamale Teaching Hospital who spoke to DGN on condition of anonymity said they lacked PPEs adding that the only time they wear PPEs is when a patient is tested positive.

    “We the health workers do not wear PPEs when we are working at the facility unless when a patient is tested positive meaning if we are not aware a patient tested positive when they are brought in because we will start treating them as normal patients who have come for medical care so we are really at risk because we need to wear these PPEs at every point of our work and not at the time we know someone has tested positive.”

    The Northern Region has confirmed 163 Covid-19 cases with 8 deaths.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Ghana Nurses Association in UK donates PPE to health workers

    The Ghana Nurses Association (GNA), the United Kingdom (UK) Chapter, has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to frontline health workers at the Koforidua Regional Hospital and East Akyem Municipal Hospitals to support the fight against Coronavirus.

    The items, included; hand sanitizers, surgical gloves, veronica buckets, detergents and toiletries, valued at Gh15, 000.

    Nana Kwame Opoku Acheampong, former Public Relations Officer of GNA-UK, who presented the items on behalf of the Association, said the items were to ease the challenges the frontline workers were facing in the wake of COVID-19.

    He said the health workers needed a constant supply of the PPE to avoid re-using the same PPE to the detriment of themselves, patients and all other persons they come into contact with at the health facilities.

    Mrs Georgina Kodua, Member of GNA-UK, appealed to manufacturers of PPE to sell the items at a lower cost so everyone could afford to protect themselves.

    She also called on government to waive taxes on PPE to stop the spread. She commended Mr Richard Nelson Mandela, Founder of Reniel Foundation Ghana, for his immense contribution to the Association and called on others in the diaspora and philanthropists in the country to emulate the gesture.

    Mrs Helen Darkua Asare, Deputy Director of Nursing Services Public Health, at the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, who received the items on behalf of the health workers thanked the Association for their kind gesture.

    She appealed to others to bring in more donations to assist health workers and cautioned Ghanaians to treat the precautionary measures to fight Covid-19 with all seriousness as the disease was no respecter of persons and could affect anyone at any time.

    Source: GNA

  • Government supports Western North education directorate with PPEs

    The Government through the Ministry of Education has supplied Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the nine Education Directorates in the Western Region.

    The PPE is to be distributed to final year Junior high and Senior High School students and teachers as part of measures to ensure their safety.

    The items include 1,592 Veronica buckets, 3,184 pieces of Soaps, 1,900 bundles of tissue papers, 1,122 plastic bowls, 1,224 thermometre guns 42,152 pieces of nose mask and 19,316 pieces of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

    Mr Abraham Fletcher, Sefwi- Waiwso Municipal Director of Education, who received the items on behalf of the Western North Regional Education Directorate Said, the major items have been received and commended the government for the items since it would go a long way to ensure the safety of both teachers and students as they prepared to write their WASSCE and BECE.

    He called on Circuit Supervisors and headteachers to ensure they used the items for the intended purpose.

    He indicated that all the COVID-19 protocols were been adhered to at the various Junior and Senior high schools with a COVID- 19 Monitoring Team and the Rapid Response Team on the ground ensuring strict adherence to all the precautionary measures.

    Mr Fletcher advised headteachers and teachers to ensure students adhered to all the protocols at all times during instructional hours especially wearing nose masks and washing of hands.

    The Municipal Director also advised students to take their lessons seriously to pass their exams.

    Some final year students from both Junior high and Senior high schools confirmed receiving two nose masks and one 200ml hand sanitizer from their various schools.

    Source: GNA

  • Rawlings @ 73 Presents PPEs, relief items to less privileged

    Former President Jerry John Rawlings turns 73 on Monday, June 22, 2020 and the birthday celebrant decided to share the milestone with the less privileged in the society.

    On Friday a team delegated by the former President made donations of PPEs and other relief items to the Pantang Hospital, Mawuvio Outreach Orphanage at Ayikuma and the Accra Mental Hospital at Asylum Down, all in Accra.

    Packages of provisions were also distributed to vendors and other less privileged persons along the Fiesta Royale Traffic Lights, and the Kawukudi Junction on the same day.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Three institutions support local authorities to fight coronavirus

    Health Directorates in five assemblies have taken delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be distributed to health facilities in their jurisdictions to enhance their work during this era of COVID-19.

    The items, which included; hand sanitizers, examination gloves, gallons of liquid soap, veronica buckets, and surgical nose masks were valued at GHc12,550 for each item for the beneficiary Health Directorates in the Saboba, Karaga, Kumbungu, Mion and Savelugu Assemblies in the Northern Region.

    The partners of the Empowerment for Life Programme (E4L), which included; the Ghana Developing Communities Association and Youth Empowerment for Life Ghana, and their Danish partner, Ghana Friends presented the items to the Health Directorates to reaffirm their commitment to stand by local communities, especially in the period of COVID-19.

    Officers of the E4L Programme presented the items to the beneficiary Health Directorates through the authorities of their various Assemblies within their jurisdictions.

    Mr Mohammed Abdul-Jabaru, Programme Manager of E4L Programme, who briefed the GNA about the intervention, said “In the coming days, the partners will support district offices of the National Commission for Civic Education and the Information Services Department in the Saboba, Karaga, Kumbungu, Mion and Savelugu Assemblies with resources to carry out community sensitization on the disease.”

    Mr Abdul-Jabaru said a similar gesture would be extended to the Ghana Health Service to intensify its community outreach programmes and the periodic meetings of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Committees in the districts.

    The E4L Programme is funded by Civil Society In Development through Ghana Friends, both in Denmark.

    Source: GNA

  • PPE shortage hits Tamale coronavirus testing center

    Information reaching DGN Online indicates that the Tamale Covid-19 Center has ran short of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to facilitate the running of the facility.

    DGN Online understands that the facility might not work in the coming days due to limited PPE.

    The technicians need N95 among other materials during sorting and pooling.

    The testing center at the Tamale Teaching hospital serves the five Regions of the North and Bono region as well.

    The facility which started work about two weeks ago has received about 3,000 samples and run tests on 2,000 samples already with 600 being processed and about 400 samples on standby.

    The Head of the laboratory, Dr. Abass Abdul-Karim told journalists that the lack of PPE and motivation for staff members who work at the facility is affecting productivity.

    According to him, about 35 personnel in various teams have been working for so many hours without motivation.

    “Our efforts are being met with some challenges so far as our PPEs and logistics are concern and motivation for the staff who are doing the work,” he lamented.

    Dr. Abdul-Karim appealed to individuals , institutions and organizations to come to their aid of the facility.

    He however cautioned residents to take the issue of Covid-19 seriously adding that the virus is real and urged the public to adhere to all the health directives to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Responding to the shortage of PPEs at the testing center , the Northern Regional Health Director, Dr. John B. Eleeza, told DGN Online that a request has been made to the headquarters in Accra to supply them with PPE.

    “ I have received a complain about the lack of PPEs and hopefully when we receive some from Accra we will give them out, ”he said.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Nurse at Ashaiman polyclinic in trouble for stealing PPEs

    The Ashaiman District Police is currently investigating suspected stealing of facemask and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by some nurses at the Ashaiman polyclinic

    The case was officially reported by one Foster Bampoe, an opinion leader in the area, and a failed Assembly Member aspirant to the police after spotting the items being carted away from the facility.

    Around 4pm on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, the complaint said he saw one nurse carting some boxes believed to contain the items from a room in the hospital which is close to a container and started monitoring the development.

    According to him, he suspected thievery and therefore started taking pictures and videoing the incident in order to have strong evidence to present to the police for investigations.

    Foster told the police that the nurse who was doing the suspected deal after carting the face masks which were in boxes called an okada rider and took six of the boxes and gave them to him to send them to someone he called on the phone.

    Continuing, he said he accosted the nurse and subjected him to queries but was fumbling and therefore reported the case to the police.

    Whilst at the police station, three officials of the hospital came in and wanted to see the crime officer and the District Commander but the complaint insisted on being part of the meeting.

    The items are currently in the custody of the police who confirmed the incident to MyNewsGh.com.

    Source: My News GH

  • Give us PPE, our members are scared of contracting COVID-19 Private Health Association to government

    The Private Health Association of Ghana has said some private health facilities intend folding up their activities due to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to the Association, some facilities are shutting down their operations due to the fear that their staff might contract the disease.

    The government announced on Wednesday, the allocation of 1.2 million PPE to health facilities in the country.

    However, in an interview with Citi News, President of the Private Health Association, Samuel Donkor said they are yet to receive PPE from the government.

    “We are just struggling all over. We are not being paid to fight COVID-19. We are not being paid to buy PPE and fight COVID-19. There is no support from the government,” he said

    “Thousands of PPE have been supplied and we do not even know where they are. Some of us are folding up our activities due to the fear of contracting the disease and spreading it.

    Globally the deficit of PPE amid the novel coronavirus pandemic has been a major point of concern and Ghana has not been an exception.

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has also reiterated its concerns over the distribution of PPE to health facilities after the confirmation that 13 members of the group who are medical doctors, tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

    The government says it has enabled significant domestic production and supply of protective equipment to health workers.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo recently noted that 905,031 nose masks, 31,630 medical scrubs, 31,472 gowns, 46,870 headcovers, and 83,500 N-95 face masks have been available.

    Giving some advice on the distribution on face masks, the Africa Centre for Health Policy urged a more equitable approach.

    “You look at densely populated areas and areas that are recording more cases of COVID-19 compared with areas that are not recording more cases so that you can direct more of the face masks to areas that are densely populated and areas that are hotspots,” the Executive Director of the Centre, Ahmed Farhan, said.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Health Ministry investigation reveals hoarding, illegal sale of PPEs

    An investigation conducted by the Health Ministry has revealed that some people have been hoarding government procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in certain parts of the country.

    Addressing the concern of health workers at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu described the act as illegal.

    He noted that the actions of the unscrupulous individuals have prevented several health workers from having protective suits as the country combat the deadly coronavirus.

    “Our search reveals that some of us are hoarding the PPEs, we even got some reports that some are selling back to us particularly the face masks,” he said.

    He indicated that as part of effort to curb the illicit act, his outfit will now engage directly with the facility to supply them with the product devoid of the institutionalized channels.

    “If [health] centres call us [Health Ministry] to tell us that they have still not received their PPEs, we do not go through the channel, we move straight to either the Region or district for the PPEs to be distributed.”

    Reacting to the hoarding of PPEs, the General Secretary for Ghana Medical Association (GMA) said individuals found culpable should be dealt with in accordance to the law.

    Dr Justice Yankson said in any human endeavour, there are people who would want to take advantage of the system, however, the state of global emergency is not the best time for such activities.

    “I do not really understand why people will be hoarding PPEs, but if investigations have brought this to light then the Health Ministry through the Ghana Health Service gives a clear cut directive to all managers of healthcare facilities not to hoard the protect.”

    The GMA General Secretary also indicated that the supply of PPEs to health facilities is now better than two months ago.

    Following several complaints by health workers in the country over inadequate supply of PPEs to the various hospitals, government resorted to the local production of protective gears to solve the problem.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Coronavirus: Government provides 5,000 PPE to media workers

    Government says it has provided 5,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be given to frontline media workers to help keep them safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Like the health workers on duty during the pandemic, frontline media practitioners are considered to be at high risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus while carrying out their duties.

    According to the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the decision to provide PPE to frontline media staff is in response to a request made by the leadership of media associations when they met with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.

    “The government of Ghana, acting through the Ministries of Health and Information has availed PPE to be distributed to frontline media workers to assist their work. We have made available as from today, approximately 5,000 pieces of PPE. The package will be delivered to the aforementioned groups, ie, GJA, PRIMPAG, NMC and the leadership of state media, for onward distribution to those they consider as frontline media workers since they are best placed to identify them. The government is hopeful that this will augment your supplies and assist you to rise to this national call at this moment,” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

    Background

    Government, in March, announced a GH¢1 billion stimulus package to households and businesses, particularly small and medium scale enterprises, under a Coronavirus Alleviation Programme in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

    On the back of this, many different business groups, including the media have been urging the government to consider them in the disbursement of the package.

    The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) forwarded a petition to the President for journalists to be considered in the disbursement of the stimulus package.

    The Association also asked that the government supports media houses that are struggling due to the outbreak of the disease.

    According to GJA President, Affail Monney, a number of media organizations and journalists are facing serious challenges due to the pressures induced by the outbreak on their organizations.

    Another case was made for journalists last week when Akufo-Addo engaged some leaders in the media industry in Ghana.

    Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh at that engagement said media personnel must be protected from the harsh impact of COVID-19.

     

     

    Kudos to media practitioners

    As the world celebrated Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020, the government congratulated all journalists in Ghana for the good work done.

    A statement issued by the Information Minister said the government celebrates the significant role the Press is playing in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    He added that the Akufo-Addo administration has been working closely with the Media and other stakeholders in disseminating information and educating the public as part of the broader COVID-19 government response.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Companies ready to deliver PPE mid-May – Managers

    The local companies contracted to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) to help fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread have given an assurance that they are on course to deliver the equipment by the mid-May deadline.

    The managers of those garment companies said they had adequate and regular supply of materials from the Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL) and the Ghana Textile Print (GTP) to produce the items.

    In the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the government selected four garment companies, including Dignity DTRT, Sleek Garments, Cadling Fashions Limited and Alfie Designs Limited to produce 3.6 million pieces of PPE to fight the pandemic.

    Among other things, the companies are required to produce nose masks, medical scrubs, hospital gowns and headgear using fabrics from ATL, Volta Star Textiles and GTP.

    This is to ensure that Ghana has enough PPE to fall on when needed by the frontline health workers as they go about their duties.

    Work progressing

    When the Daily Graphic visited the premises of some of the companies yesterday to ascertain the progress of work on the project, it observed that work was going on in earnest.

    The managers of the companies had beefed up their core workers with extra hands as a measure to meet their daily production targets.

     

    Some of the departments of the companies that had been inactive had been revitalised and were actively contributing to the production process.

    In keeping to the social distancing protocols, the managers of the companies rolled out a shift system for the workers.

    Sleek Garments

    For instance, when the Daily Graphic team got to the premises of Sleek Garments at about 12:30 p.m., the first batch of about 250 workers were busy producing nose masks and other PPE.

    The manager of the facility, Ms Nora Bannerman, who took the team to the production centre, said the company had the needed machinery, human resource and materials needed to produce to meet the order.

    She explained that the company had sub-contracted other garment entities so it could meet the deadline.

    “For each of the five companies that were handed the PPE contract, we have sub-contracted about 10 other entities to facilitate the production.

    “For Sleek Garments, we started producing 2,000 PPE daily, but now we have reached 20,000 a day because we brought on more workers,” she said.

    Safety

    Ms Bannerman said the materials were produced in compliance with Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) requirements, thus they met the safety requirement for the production of the PPE.

    “After going through approval from GSA and FDA, we need to send whatever we produce here to the Korle But Teaching Hospital for sterilisation before it can be used,” she added.

    Ms Bannerman said she was optimistic that the garment companies would deliver the 3.6 million pieces of PPE, given that the needed resources were available.

    She noted that the role the local garment companies were playing in the production of PPE was a wake-up call for more support to be extended to them even after the pandemic.

    Cadling Fashions

    At Cadling Fashions Limited, the situation was not any different as the workers were seen busily putting the pieces together to produce the hospital scrubs, gowns, headgear and nose masks.

    The Daily Graphic team observed that the production chain progressed with fluidity as some of the 300 workers cut the material for the various items to be sewn, while others stitched it and another team also went round to check on the finishing to ensure that there were no mistakes.

    Conducting the team round the production centre, Mrs Linda Yaa Ampah, said the production of the PPE project had presented a huge opportunity for the local garment industry to grow.

    “The local companies that were given the contract to produce the PPE are now playing a leading role for other garment companies and this is a great opportunity for the country to grow the industry,” she said.

    Dignity DTRT

    Although the Daily Graphic team went to Dignity DTRT on two different days, the team was not allowed to enter the main premises of the company to see how production was progressing.

    Background

    In his fifth address to the nation to give an update on the COVID-19 interventions on Sunday, April 5, President Akufo-Addo announced that some local companies had been contracted to begin the local production of PPE.

    The President said that had become necessary to forestall any shortage in providing PPE which were essential in protecting the lives of frontline health workers who were risking their lives every day to battle the virus.

    He also said the decision to have the PPE produced locally was also part of the plan to ensure that the nation became self-reliant.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Maamobi Hospital administrator denies report of selling PPEs to staff

    The administrator of the Maamobi General Hospital, Helen Tetteh has debunked claims of selling Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to staff of the hospital.

    There were reports in the media on April 22, 2020, that the staff were angry with her because they had to purchase their own PPEs.

    Health workers at the facility can only access the PPE after paying 5 cedis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the report said.

    Ms Tetteh, however, says their stores always make available PPEs to staff on a regular basis but also admitted that they have limited resources and will need more from the government to combat the disease.

    “I will say it is not true that we sell PPEs to our staff, we had in-stock quantity of face mask and management issued a memo to the effect that all unit heads must go for face mask from the general store and the records are there. We do not give it to them on a daily basis, we issue some specific quantity to the various units and it is expected that as and when it is exhausted they request for more. We have had some PPEs from the government but it is not enough we need more”

    Some health workers have threatened to withdraw their services in the fight against COVID-19 if the government does not provide them with enough PPEs.

    Their calls were heard as the government made provisions of these PPEs which includes nose/face mask, gloves gowns among others.

    With the number of COVID-19 cases rising in Ghana, there have been calls to provide more PPEs to these health workers to ensure they perform their duties without fear.

    Ghana has started manufacturing PPEs with some five local companies tasked to do so.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 cases as of April 22, 2020 stood at 1,154 with 120 recoveries and 9 deaths.

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Maamobi hospital staff fight supervisor for selling PPE to them

    Medical staff at the Maamobi General Hospital are angry at their supervisor for selling Personal Protective Equipment to them.

    Health workers at the facility can only access the PPE after paying 5 cedis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The facility has recorded COVID-19 cases with some health workers falling victims as well.

    Speaking to Starr News, a midwife at the hospital disclosed that the supervisor has procured the PPE following lack of supply from the Central government which is being sold to the staff.

    The workers want the internally generated funds to rather be used in providing the PPE at no fee to them.

    “I cannot imagine a whole medical supervisor at the hospital selling us PPEs…she is selling to us at 5 cedis. We expected that even if she has taken from somewhere she can give to us and take it from the IGF.

    “The work I am doing is for the government and myself and so why would I buy my own PPE to work,” a midwife at the hospital told Starr News.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Photos: Local production of PPEs commences in Ghana

    Four Ghanaian garment manufacturing companies in Accra are set to commence the production of personal protective equipment (PPEs) as the government pursues an aggressive policy to meet the demand for protective gears for the health sector.

    It comes at a time PPEs supplies across the world are in peak demand with countries jealously guarding their stock.

    The Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, on Saturday, paid a working visit to the four Ghanaian garment manufacturing companies in Accra.

    The government selected the companies to produce PPEs for frontline health workers leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    The local garment companies selected to spearhead this project are Dignity DTRT, Sleek Garments, Cadling Fashions and Alfie Designs Limited.

    A team from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Health, accompanied Mr Kyerematen on his visit.

    Below are some photos

    Source: theghanareport.com

  • ‘We’re going to provide Ellembelle District with PPE’s – Regional Minister assures

    The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mrs. Eugenia Gifty Kusi has pledged on behalf of the Central Government to provide the Ellembelle District Health Directorate with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

    The availability of PPE’s has become an issue in some health facilities across the country but government is working tirelessly to provide PPE to those health facilities.

    The Deputy Minister made the above assurance at Aiyinasi in the Ellembelle District where she joined the Assembly on Monday, April 6, 2020 to disinfect Aiyinasi market and other markets in the area.

    The Local Government Ministry together with the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) on Monday morning, fumigated over 100 markets and other public places in the region in a way to contain the spread of the virus.

    The fumigation exercise in Ellembelle, however ended successfully with the support of the security agencies in the District.

    In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent Daniel Kaku after the exercise, the Deputy Western Regional Minister Mrs. Eugenia Kusi commended the sprayers for dedicating their precious time to disinfect all the fourteen markets in the Ellembelle District.

    She reiterated government’s readiness to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) locally and distribute to all health facilities across the country.

    She, therefore, assured the good people of Ellembelle that, the District would not be left out.

    “… Government is manufacturing PPE, sanitizers and hospital beds to share to all the sixteen Regions in the country, so very soon Western Region will benefit and this area (Ellembelle District) will not be left out, they are going to benefit”, she pledged.

    Mrs. Eugenia Kusi commended President Akufo-Addo for promising Nurses with an allowance-package to motivate them especially frontline health workers to save the lives of Ghanaians in the wake of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

    “…You heard the President’s speech, he has promised to give the Nurses allowances of 50 percent and also increase their salaries for the next three months and in fact our President has done well, the Government thinks about everybody”, she said.

    She, therefore, encouraged the Nurses to continue with their good works they had started to save the lives of Ghanaians.

    “We will encourage the Nurses to continue with the good works they have started to save lives of Ghanaians. May God continue to be with them to save lives”, she stated.

    She bemoaned how the deadly Coronavirus was disturbing everybody in the world but said despite the disease, Government would continue to tackle its developmental projects in the Region.

    She disclosed that contractors contracted to execute projects in the Region were still on them but said the Contractors would delay because of the Coronavirus.

    Mrs. Eugenia Kusi seized the opportunity to emphasize on regular hand washing habit.

    She urged the good people of Ellembelle to continue to wash their hands with soap under running water frequently to avoid contracting and spreading of the virus.

    “I will urge everybody to wash his or her hands everyday, wherever there is no water use sanitizer to make that the disease is contained and vanished in Ghana. This disease can’t kill we Ghanaians because if you look at other countries their cases you can see that our cases are low and we Ghanaians too listen to the advice our President has told us”, she concluded.

    Ghana has recorded 313 confirmed cases with 6 deaths of Coronavirus.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Sunyani Regional Hospital cries for more PPEs

    It has emerged that the Sunyani Regional Hospital has not got enough Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to be able to deal with an outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

    Even though the facility has the infrastructures to handle a possible case of COVID-19, frontline health personnel lack the necessary protective gears.
    The Bono Regional Medical Director, Dr E.K. Amponsah, has revealed that the situation puts health personnel at the facility at risk as the facility is among the two treatment centres established in the Bono region.

    According to him, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which include face shields, gloves, goggles and glasses, gowns, head covers, masks, respirators, and shoe covers are key at this critical moment as they protect wearers against the transmission of germs through contact and droplet routes.

    He reveals that despite their importance in the CIVD-19 fight, attempts by management to get enough for use at the facility have been unsuccessful due to several bureaucratic procedures.

    Speaking in an interview with Ghanaweb.com, Dr Amponsah decried the seriousness of the issue and pleaded with NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and the general public to come to their aid.

    “It is sad but the reality is that we do not have enough PPEs at this facility to handle an outbreak of coronavirus. There are some but they are not enough to be used by all the front- liners in an event of a possible outbreak in the region.

    “We are therefore appealing to the general public to help in that regard since we have an impending problem on our hands”.
    Meanwhile, some nurses who spoke to this portal on condition of strict anonymity have threatened to withdraw their services should management fail to procure enough Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for use in the coming days.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • John Boadu donates PPE to health facilities in Assin Central

    The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Boadu, has donated hundreds of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items to health facilities in the Assin Central Municipality.

    The items include alcohol-based hand sanitizers, hand gloves, nose mask, Veronica Buckets, boxes of tissue papers, mattresses and liquid soaps.

    The gesture was part of his contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He spoke of the need to maintain good personal hygiene, especially, at the markets and lorry stations places he said were highly prone to the transmission of the virus.

    Mr Boadu expressed confidence in the prudent measures outlined by the Government and the Ghana Health Service to contain the spread of the virus.

    He urged all and sundry to adhere to the recommended safety measures and assured that the Committee would routinely revise the measures and strategies put in place to educate and protect the general public from the disease.

    Mr Boadu who is a native of Assin Fosu was accompanied by Mr Nicholas Fiifi Baako, the Municipal Chief Executive and some health officials, engaged traders at the main market, public Places and the Divisional Police Command.

    Mr Benjamin Amoako, the Municipal Director of the Ghana Health Service who received the item hailed the NPP Scribe who is also a philanthropist and urged others to emulate him.

    He indicated that health facilities in the area were in dire need of infra-red monitors and other support mechanisms to enable them function effectively.

    The Health Directorate together with other key stakeholders such as traditional and religious leaders, transport unions and assembly members had begun intensive public sensitisation to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Area.

    Through that, a Risk Communication Team (RCT) had been formed at the district and community levels, which were touring and educating the people at the doorstep of all.

    The Municipal Health Director commended members of the local RCT made up of opinion leaders, assembly members, health officials among others for their dedication and commitment to serve and save humanity.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: John Mahama donates PPEs to Ridge Hospital health workers

    Former President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday presented one hundred sets of personal protective equipments (PPE) to health workers at the Greater Accra Regional (Ridge) Hospital in Accra.

    The presentation, according to Mr. Mahama, follows reports of shortage of PPE and other materials required by the frontline medical personnel at the hospital in their fight against the Coronavirus.

    The Ridge Hospital has become, virtually, the main facility that is helping with the management of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Mahama who is also the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) expressed the hope that the items presented will help in protecting the staff of the hospital as they go about their work.

    “We all, Ghana, appreciates the work you are doing. You are the frontline defence of the population against the disease and we must all support you to be able to protect us”.

    The items presented include 100 full sets of PPE, 100 gum boots, 120 doctors scrubs, 50 patients gowns, 30 theatre gowns and 400 packs of bottled drinking water.

    Medical Director in charge of the Ridge Hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Srofenyoh, in thanking the former President and the NDC, noted that the items presented “are really the things that we have been lacking, particularly the PPE, surgical face masks, coveralls, and the items that are really needed”.

    “The other day I was describing a situation that when the staff want to gown and attend to a patient, it takes up to about 20 to 30 minutes to complete the gowning. And the items that are used after one usage, you have to discard all of them, and come in for a fresh one. It is for this reason that the demand is so high”.

    President Mahama was accompanied by the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the Chair of the NDC COVID-19 Technical Team, Prosper Bani and the MP for Klottey Korle Dr. Zanetor Agemang-Rawlings.

    Source: johnmahama.org