Robert Kwame deGraft Agyarko, a lead Advisor on Outbreaks and Epidemics of South Africa-based Africa Risk Capacity (ARC), is advocating the planning and implementation of some strong measures before the partial lockdown in some parts of Ghana is finally lifted.
As part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a two-week lockdown was declared by government.
In a recent address to the nation, President Akufo-Addo extended the partial lockdown by one more week.
Some were hopeful that the lockdown will be lifted since it's having a huge impact on the vulnerable.
Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Mr Agyarko urged that strong measures must be put in place before the lockdown is lifted otherwise there will be an upsurge of infections.
"....when partial lockdowns are lifted and care is not taken, there can be an upsurge of infections and so government must study the trend and ensure that everything is under control before going ahead (to lift restrictions)..." he counseled.
Listen to the discussion in the video below
Kwame deGraft Agyarko has 18 years of international experience working in development and public health, including management and coordination roles in national and international organisations.
These include, working for WHO on the Impact of HIV/AIDS on older persons (1999-2003, based in Geneva), Coordinator in WHO AFRO’s Regional Malaria technical support team (2003-2007, based in Zimbabwe); portfolio Manager for South Africa and Namibia (2007-2009, based in Geneva) at the Global Fund; West and Central Africa Malaria Advisor (2009-2010, based in Dakar) at UNICEF.
In 2015, he served as the Technical Advisor to the Incident Commander and Coordinator of the Ghana Public Health Emergency Operations Center.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Please Government stop the lock down in your two main cities! People are really suffering! People will die if they go out equally so people will die if they just stay in the house. More education on social distancing, hand washing and the use of the mask will rather help What we are doing is not effective
You think you are making s.e.n.s.e aaah ma.., Massa apart from you talking about prayers, you have not made any s.-e-n-s.e at all to me. Mahama team, it doesn't make any reason, we have health systems in place that needs to work, state machinery must work when they have the necessary resources. And with the people our support. Talk is cheap so anyone can come and talk like yourself. When Asiedu Nketia and others were talking about voters register amidst this pandemic what did Mahama say about it? You are doing politics yourself, all you sounding and talking is politics. Are you listening to yourself. And by the way where did the wife of Bill GATES STAND TO SAY WHAT YOU ARE ATTRIBUTING TO HER? You misconstrue everything. All measures the good people of Ghana and their president have put in place are nothing to your head? Have you even praised any of the measures as Ghanaian? Empty barrel, just look at the notice you are making with plenty of text you have typed there.
we are missing it as a country. had it been EC, we would have said oh give them all necessary budget for free and fair election. if judiciary same and also for security services. is time we stand and think as Ghanaian with no malice. the presidents and government have failed. throughout the wold is only prez mahama that has depoliticized this pandemic by offering a medical or health team to assist in government effort. to avoid even hm scoring political point, i was expecting the noble president to have 1. INSTITUTED OR LIAISE WITH PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE OR BY PARTIZAN TASK FORCE ON health to fight this 2. should have closed total the airports, harbors and boarders 3. don't allow any consignment or shipping from any other country to Ghana except screen food and health items 4. as the statistics stand or ECG/GWSCL/GRA stands, supply food and basic health kits to those paying bills and tax to even encourage other to register for tax, pay as well pay bills. times a pandemic may be blessing in disguise. by doing so, the president would have call for a total LOCK DOWN for a month at least so any infected would have been easily identified as he immune system stronger even cant go beyond 4 weeks without showing signs of the disease. 5. get food stamps with basic health kits at vantage places or local assemblies so upon a phone call of toll free number, any in need of help would be easily assisted 6. PPE is a must this time and no matter what, local manufacturers or home made PPE must be encouraged. 7. prayer is the key : above all, am a christian but not to discriminate or offend any religion, the three basic religious groups must be called upon to pray as Christians, Muslims and traditional leaders. mr president, you don't put a camera on a pastor, imam etc to pray. you give them peduase lodge or a mosque etc so each does his / her own way od prayers. i don't expect papa duncan to cry live on tv praying but in an enclosed place, the archbishop can lay flat on the ground to plead to the Lord so imam or a chief may do my people will ask for DO I KNOW THE BUDGET?. if only the government have this idea or plan or even more than mine listed, there is no cost or budget greater than human life. i don't think the EC budget is less than the cost of keeping a Ghanaian life for even a month. i don't think a Ghanaian will ask for road this time than his / her life, i don't think going to IMF with temporal measures or stiffening will mean the government economic team is bad. if the government call for TOTAL BI PARTISAN approach and stop the failed government health and economics committees who most are only in their bedrooms calling out figures by thinking of the economy and failing to think about the immediate life of Ghanaian, as i predicted, the cases will reach a stage medical doctors, military etc will through their hands in the air and as bill gates wife said, AFRICAN WILL DIE ON THE STREETS. they say so because they know the number of cases imported to Africa without seeing now till when it takes effect we all see may be greater than the death toll in US, SPAIN & ITALY. My people, is time to stop any political or health whatever superiority and think as common people to get solution. the Europeans, USA etc we looking up to have failed and is a bright time GHANA stands out to shine as a country as we always pride ourselves of. THANK YOU
Go and shave your beard