Staff of the Ridge Hospital in Accra, on Sunday, March 15, 2020 took to their heels when a Chinese man walked in exhibiting symptoms similar to the deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Whatsup News gathered that the Nurses refused to attend to the Chinese because they did not have any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to handle such a case in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak.
The incident happened hours after the Ghana Health Services (GHS) announced that Ghana has so far officially recorded six cases of the dreaded Covid-19, mostly from people who travelled into the country.
Whatsup News can confirm that health services is currently grappling with shortages of protective masks for personnel.
A March 10 memo issued to all units of the GHS confirmed this saying: “You are by this letter informed that there is currently a shortage of face mask nationwide. As a result, you are all entreated to use the limited number at the facility judiciously until additional supplies are made.”
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives’ Association (GRNMA) had earlier advised its members to be alert and take cover if they are not given protective gears in the wake of the devastating Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
In a March 13, 2020 statement released by the GRNMA, it wants its members to be protected from contracting the deadly flu virus.
“We reiterate the need for the Ministry of health to provide the necessary logistics required to prevent the spread of the virus at the designated Covid-19 Treatment Centres. Nursing and Midwifery managers must ensure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are available for use by all nurses and midwives working in isolation Units…,” read the statement signed by both the President and the General-Secretary of the GRNMA.
Meanwhile, other hospitals have recorded similar cases where suspected Covid-19 patients have caused a stampede of nurses.
Whatsup gathered that the Sakumono Hospital was over the weekend thrown into a state of panic after a couple worked in exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The reaction of the scared medical staff forced the couple to leave the hospital. Their whereabouts is currently uncertain and the possibility of them contacting other people cannot be ascertained.