Coronavirus: Jomoro Health Director appeals for PPEs

From Western Regional Correspondant

The Municipal Health Director of Jomoro Municipality in the Western Region, Mr. Sampson Joseph Kwame is appealing for Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to help health facilities in the area to curb the spread of deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

A visit to some health facilities in the Municipality by GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent, Daniel Kaku confirmed that some health workers are not safe when it comes to the fight against the Coronavirus.

During the visit, some Nurses who spoke on condition of anonymity, complained bitterly that since the Coronavirus hit the country, they had not received any PPE.

They said they go to work unprotected, and this situation has put fears in them anytime they want to touch any patient that visit their designated facilities.

"Since this disease visited us in Ghana, we the nurses in Jomoro have not received any preventive items from anybody and we are afraid to touch any patient that comes to us for medical attention, we don't have sanitizers, hand gloves and others, if care is not taking we will not come to work", they lamented.

In a quick response by the Jomoro Municipal Health Director on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, Mr. Joseph Kwame admitted that his Directorate lacks some Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to be distributed to the health facilities in the area.

He disclosed that some health facilities had been provided with hand gloves.

On the issue of hand sanitizers, the Health Director said his outfit has not been provided.

"As we are speaking we don't get hand sanitizers to buy from markets, we even went to Takoradi we did not get some to buy, there are shortages of hand gloves and we are trying to order some from Cote d'ivoire", he emphasized.

Asking whether anybody has promised to donate the PPEs to the Directorate, Mr. Joseph Kwame revealed that the Member of Parliament (MP) and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area had promised him to deliver some of the PPEs to the Directorate.

On public education, the Health Director said his outfit was doing what it could to educate the residents about the Coronavirus.

He said although his outfit has been conducting some form of public education, he pleaded that his outfit needs resources to embark on Mass Media Education.

He, therefore appealed to radio stations in the Municipality to provide them with free airtime to educate the masses.

Government has established an Isolation Center at the Half Assini Government Hospital to cater for any suspected Coronavirus patient.

Information gathered from the Center indicates that though the Center has some PPEs management of the facility say they need more items such as goggles, face shields, gowns, medical masks, hand gloves and others.