The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), the largest frontline health care provider is following the outbreak, spread, preventive and curative measures that have been put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various countries in stemming the scourge of COVID-19.
The Association would like to commend the Government of Ghana for following strictly the WHO’s precautionary recommendation of evacuation despite the call by some sections of society to do otherwise. The support extended to students and the Ghanaian community-based in Wuhan and other provinces hardly hit by the blight is so far encouraging.
It is interesting to note that Ghana is classified among 13 Priority-I countries in the WHO Africa region for being at risk, based on flights and passenger volumes. Further, as of 25th February 2020, a total of 24 suspected cases have been reported and all have tested negative for COVID-19. We, therefore, find it troubling the news that not enough stringent measures have been put in place at our various entry points.
Yesterday, on Adomonline.com, it was reported that Chinese and other nationals were walking freely through the Kotoka International Airport without any comprehensive screening. We cannot take our citizens for granted as many countries are preparing and closing their borders to other high risked nationals. It is absolutely important that we safeguard our nation whilst helping China to contain the deadly pandemic.
We hereby suggest the following measures to be considered as a matter of urgency:
-Augment the port heath workers with specially trained nurses and doctors with the requisite knowledge and logistics to identify, quarantine, embark on contact tracing, and transporting suspecting individuals to a well-resourced health center to deal with such cases and provide treatment if any.
-Put in place attractive insurance cover and compensatory scheme for the special taskforce.
-Provide adequate protective clothing and disinfectants to health staff at the designated centers.