Prior to President Nana Akufo-Addo asking Ghanaians to wear face masks whenever going into public spaces in amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, some citizens were already doing that in the middle of a debate on the quality of masks.
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Medical experts and some Ghanaians insisting that the cloth mask gave no protection from COVID-19 advised the public to only use the N95 or surgical masks which protected one from up to 95% of all infections and bacteria.
Demand for these masks rose through the roof, causing shortages in the country. It is in relation to this shortage that the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has appealed to Ghanaians to rather go in for the home made face masks rather than the surgical and N95 masks.
Speaking to Samuel Eshun on Happy98.9FM’s ‘Happy Morning Show’, the President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Frank Ankobea acknowledged that the N95 mask is probably the best when it comes to protective masks and said, “special masks like the N95 and surgical masks should be left for frontline and medical professionals”.
According to him, these specialized masks are used by health professionals because of their work, and is to prevent them from being infected by bodily fluids of patients they are caring for be it during surgeries or treating wounds.
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He noted that the masks made of cloth and other materials are appropriate for the public to use as he pleaded for their support in helping the frontline and health workers get the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to fight the coronavirus.
The GMA president went on to advise Ghanaians on the need to heed to the President’s call for all Ghanaians to wear masks when leaving their homes. “Wearing the masks protects you and others”. He asserted that droplets from a person’s mouth or nostrils are absorbed by the masks preventing the spread if one is asymptomatic and “the homemade masks or the ones made of clothes are adequate to protect one from these droplets”.
Dr. Ankobea insisted that the wearing of masks was a sure way to prevent the spread of the virus but did not necessarily protect one from contracting it. “Wearing nose masks combined with practicing the social distancing and other preventive measures should protect one from COVID-19”, he clarified.
He also warned Ghanaians not to immediately wear these masks when they buy them but rather wash, iron and disinfect before using them.
The GMA was against the President’s decision to lift the lockdown placed on certain parts of the country 3 weeks back. But after meeting with the Presidency, the association has soften its stance and called on Ghanaians to support the President’s decision and focus on the way forward.
By: Joel Sanco