Ministry of Health condemns assault on doctor

Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - The Ministry of Health has condemned the physical attack on Dr Prosper Akanbon of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, by a group of young men for allegedly delaying in attending to the ailing father of one of them.

The Ministry, in a statement signed by Mr Dan Osman Mwin, Head of Public Relations, said the assault on Dr Akanbon was unwarranted, since the physician specialist was at the time of the patient's arrival at the Hospital, performing an equally important professional duty on another patient who had earlier been brought to the Hospital. "The Ministry wishes to state that at a time when it was extremely difficult persuading doctors and other health professionals to accept postings to the three northern regions in particular and other difficult environments in the country in general, some irresponsible people would resort to physical attacks on the few health professionals who have accepted to forgo all the luxuries in the urban south to provide health care to people in the north.

It said the Ministry fully backed the call made by the Ghana Medical Association to the Northern Regional Police Command to ensure speedy investigation into the alleged assault on Dr Akanbon and proceed with legal proceedings to ensure that the perpetrators of the criminal act were made to face the full rigors of the law. Such a move, it said, would serve "as a deterrent to other like-minded people not only in Tamale, but in all parts of the country where health professionals are rendering invaluable services to the people but are constantly harassed". The statement said it was important for all Ghanaians to do things that would not only motivate health professionals in the country to stay but also to attract those who were abroad to return and support their colleagues holding the fort.

"It is equally important for all well meaning Ghanaians to show love for all health professionals in the country by helping to protect them and also show the traditional Ghanaian hospitality to all foreign medical practitioners who have been recruited to help provide quality health care to the people." In another development, the Ministry has also commended Mr Abdul Karim Boakye-Yiadom, District Chief Executive of the Asante Akim South, for making available his professional experience as an anaesthetist to the Juaso District Hospital. The Ministry said it was proud to hear that Mr Boakye-Yiadom had on several occasions sacrificed part of his busy schedule to help save lives at the hospital by responding to emergency cases. "The Ministry salutes and appreciates Mr Boakye-Yiadom's invaluable services to the people of Juaso and surrounding areas, and encourages other health professionals who have either found themselves in political appointments or have even retired but healthy to emulate the good example of the DCE, by placing their expertise at the disposal of the hospitals and other health facilities near where they work or reside," the statement said.