Stop spreading panic news on coronavirus - Ghana Medical Association

The leadership of the Ghana Medical Association has expressed profound anger towards media reports aimed at making derogatory remarks on attempts by the medical officer s to respond to the coronavirus epidemic.

The Association, however, demands total public support for the medical team at the various centers in the country to empower officers to discharge their duties rather than to disseminate panic information that would deter the public to access medical support in case they are attacked by the virus.

The President of the Ghana Medical Association Dr. Frank Anobia making the observations during an exclusive interview with OTEC FM’s Nyansapo morning show hosted by Captain Koda insisted that no trained medical doctor would ever run away from a Coronavirus patient added his checks indicated that some medical officers at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital rather stayed away from the suspected cases because they had studied the situation.

A section of the Ghanaian media, as well as social media outlets, went frenzy with the news of medical officers at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital running helter-skelter after an alleged case was brought to the facility for treatment.

Though the government of Ghana has resolved to support the medical officers, several health facilities do not have the requisite tools in the treatment of the dreaded coronavirus.

But reacting to the news, President of the Ghana Medical Association Dr. Frank Anobia warned such news has serious repercussion adding that, “if we continue to spread these panic but untrue news items patients may choose to die at homes because medical doctors would not attend to them. We have experienced medical officers at the facilities to help so no one should panic. It does not make sense for such news items to be given any attention.”

President of the Ghana Medical Association Dr. Frank Anobia further commended the government for the massive support given to the health centers in the treatment of the disease maintaining that his men would provide due services to the masses in case there was a case in the country.