Former Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, has reacted to the news that some health workers in some Ghanaian hospitals fled when suspected cases of Coronavirus was reported to the hospitals, by stating that no measures have been put in place to prepare a team to handle the Coronavirus disease.
Speaking in an interview on the Happy Morning Show aired on Happy 98.9FM, he said: “I don’t have a problem with people running away. When you look at the face of it, it is not right. But even if they run away, the question is, who came after the people run away because you must have a team at every facility on a 24/7 basis so even when there is that suspicion and they are called,they come in.There must be protective gear available for them which they will use to then deal with the patients”.
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He added that “when people test positive to the virus, there should be a way to transport them to a secluded place”.
In his opinion, people should be made aware of who takes charge when a Coronavirus case is reported so that the panic at these hospitals will be reduced.
“When people are aware of those who are in charge of taking care of Coronavirus cases in the hospitals, they will not run. But if nobody has educated the hospital and nobody knows who is supposed to deal with it, what happens is that they run because they themselves are not ready for it.This is why I said the preparedness was slow”, he added.
Last month, The Head of Public Health Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital warned against “malicious panic” following suspected cases of the deadly Coronavirus.
Dr. Philip Amoo revealed that some health professionals run away after learning that two foreigners have been admitted for medical attention after complaining of symptoms that could be Coronavirus.
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He said people suddenly wanted to go home giving excuses. “Some wanted to go home and look after their children”, he said.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah