200 mental patients to be released today

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mental Health Authority, Dr Akwasi Osei, has said a lot has been done by the government and the Ministry of Health to mitigate the plight of healthcare delivery at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital since nurses of the facility began an indefinite strike.

Already the hospital has threatened to release some inmates due to lack of logistics, medication and funds to care for them. Two hundred of the patients are due to be sent back home today, Monday, 7 November as a result.

Government is expected to release GHS1million to the hospital.

The nurses embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday, 31 October in protest to “dangerous” working conditions and lack of basic logistics for proper delivery of health care.

Despite government’s release of a cheque for GHS300, 000 and GHS100, 000 worth of medication, the nurses have refused to call off their strike.

Speaking to Class News, Dr Osei said: “The Ministry of Finance is releasing some money that has not come yet to add to what the Ministry of Health is giving. Together with the Ministry of Health, they are going to release about GHS1million in cash directly or [through] logistics, so, with that we will urge the nurses that: ‘Yes, you did not get all what you wanted, but you’ve got something that should encourage you’. The Ministry has started intervening, they’ve given a cheque for GHS300,000 and that cheque will mature by Monday (November 7). They are also bringing some logistics, some medication, and a few things that will alleviate the immediate acute problem. The Ministry is also making arrangements to bring some security personnel; plain clothed policemen to assist with security, so, with all these measures, by mid-week things should come maybe not back to normal but at a point where the nurses should feel comfortable to come to work,” he stated.