Landlords threaten to evict health workers over fears of contracting Covid-19
Some landlords at New Edubiase in the Ashanti region have threatened to evict health workers for fear of contracting Covid-19.
According to the Medical Superintendent of the New Edubiase Government Hospital, the attitude of some landlords is worrying, especially at a time when health workers need the utmost support from citizens.
Dr. Allan Tiertoore indicated that the landlords are suspicious of the potential spread of the virus by health workers to other tenants when they return home since they are in regular contact with patients.
He threatened that if a single health worker is evicted it would compel the entire staff to boycott services and return to their various communities.
“If they evict one health worker, they have evicted all of us from the hospital.”
New Edubiase has so far recorded three Covid-19 cases which health workers say they are working tirelessly to prevent from spreading.
Chief of New Edubiase Traditional Area, Oguahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang has also called on residents to unite and remain focus in order to be able to fight the disease.
As part of the measures by the traditional council to help the health facility fight the pandemic, the chief has donated ₵27, 000 worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the hospital.
The items include 4,000 facemasks, 1,000 hand gloves, 600 bottles of sanitizers, among others.
Oguahyia Birikorang admonished residents to adhere to preventive measures outlined by health officials.
Ghana’s number of Covid-19 cases has risen to 10,358 with the total number of recoveries, 3,824
and the number of deaths still 48 as of June 11, 2020.
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended the appreciation of the nation to all health workers across the country for the continued sacrifices they are making in caring persons who have contracted coronavirus and the sick in general.
“…I appreciate, and the country appreciates very much, the work that you are doing,” he told the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association April 7 at the Jubilee House in Accra
He explained the meeting was also “to encourage you that, at this stage more than at any time in your professional career, you will really be standing up for the people of Ghana in everything that you do.”
The President admitted that after 63 years of Ghana’s independence, the country has not done well in making readily available all the facilities required for the health workers to function.
He, nonetheless, assured that “on my part and on the part of the government, we will continue to see what we can do to meet you halfway, ease the issues that you have. I think you heard my broadcast the other day, I indicated the measures that we want to put in place to support you in the work that you are doing.”
Outlining some of the interventions being made to support and motivate health workers during this crisis, President Akufo-Addo stated that “buses for nurses and health workers have started plying the streets of Accra, the allowances that are going to be paid to health workers are being worked out by the Finance Minister, and, very soon, in the course of this month the first payments are going to be made.”
He continued, “the daily allowances that are going to contact traces and all; all of those things are being done. But, above all, in crises of this nature, it is our spirit, our morale, our commitment, to our country, to our society, that will determine the success or otherwise of our ability to confront this menace.”
On the definition of who which group constituted “Frontline Health Workers”, President Akufo-Addo stated that “effort is being made on the part of the government, to arrive at an acceptable definition, and I think your input will be very necessary and required, so that we get a definition that makes sense for everybody and which addresses the issue of people who are also in the frontline, as it were, of dealing with this disease.”
