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Minister for Information and Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayerebi, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that there is a short supply of PPEs globally.

However, government is expecting to receive more supplies in the coming days.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that though some medical facilities lack PPEs, there are a good number of them that still have some for use in the various hospitals.

"What is happening is that because the medical facilities don’t want the usage of the PPEs to be abused, you may need to apply for it at these facilities before you will be presented with some for use in the hospital.

"We are also appealing to Ghanaians to ensure their personal safety by obeying all the safety protocols," he said.

The President HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also set a committee to ensure strict compliance of the safety protocols, especially in the various Senior High Schools.

He also added that the Finance Minister will in the coming weeks go to parliament to render accounts to the House on the expenditure of the COVID-19 fund.

779 health workers infected

About seven hundred and seventy-nine (779) health workers in Ghana have contracted deadly Coronavirus diseases.

Nine of them have, however, succumbed to the disease, while a large number are in isolation awaiting their test results after being exposed to the virus in the line of duty.

A joint press statement by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Health Services Workers' Union of TUC Ghana (HSWU) and Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) on Thursday, July 9, said the rate of infection among health workers was a matter of grave concern since it was negatively affecting health care delivery at the various health facilities in the country.

Giving a breakdown of infections, the statement said as at Tuesday, June 30, 190 doctors had contracted the disease, with four of them dead.

It added that 410 nurses and midwives had also been infected with one death, while 156 members of the HSWU had also been infected with three deaths.

It said 23 members of the GHOSPA had also contracted the virus with one unfortunate death.

Causes

According to the associations, the increasing numbers could be attributed to inadequate and erratic supply of PPES to health workers both in quantity and quality as well as a general breakdown or non-adherence to infection prevention and control protocols in most facilities.

It added among other things that, there were delays in receipt of COVID-19 test results for patients being managed inwards, some health facilities were also concealing information of colleagues who had tested positive for the disease, resulting in increased exposure of health personnel to the virus.

It said there was also a breakdown or inadequate contact tracing within facilities, while designated holding bays for suspected cases in some facilities were non-existent.

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