Pharmacies incur Nana Aba Anamoah’s wrath for overpricing sanitizers

As a chunk of the populace throng pharmacies to buy hand sanitizers as part of efforts to protect themselves from being infected with coronavirus, owners of some pharmacies have hiked up prices of the commodity – a development which has been frowned upon by Nana Aba Anamoah.

The renowned journalist argues that the decision to increase the prices astronomically is exploitative, and inhumane considering the fact that a collective effort is required in the quest to curb the pandemic.

“You’re opportunists,” she jabbed in a tweet, Sunday, while sharing a screenshot of a receipt from a pharmacy.

In the past few days, prices of hand sanitizers have skyrocketed following the announcement that Ghana has recorded first two cases. Public education has consequently been intensified in order to prevent others from being infected especially when the victims, according to officials, have been in the country for a week before testing positive.

Among other things, people have been urged to avoid shaking hands, wash their hands under running water and apply hand sanitizer. As they heed to the call, prices of the commodity has seen an increase by more than 200%.

According to Nana Aba Anamoah, it is repugnant for any pharmacy to capitalize on the development and exploit customers.

“Shame on all pharmacies increasing the price of hand sanitizers. If your neighbor can't afford it, the chance of infection is higher,” she scolded.

View this post on Instagram

All pharmacies and shops that have increased the prices of sanitisers astronomically are all hell-bound. You sit in your homes and offices and complain when issues of corruption come up. You’re corrupt. You’re evil. You shameless bunch of insensitive people. If your neighbor can't afford it, your chance of infection is higher.

A post shared by nana aba (@thenanaaba) on Mar 15, 2020 at 9:09am PDT

Meanwhile sports journalist Michael Oti Adjei has observed that some pharmacies are hoarding the product to maximize profit.

The hand sanitizers that you are hoarding to maximise profit, you would have breakfast with it soon p33

— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) March 15, 2020

About coronavirus

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.