Asore Simon Azumah | Photo: Courtesy Simon

By: Asore Simon Azumah

My visit to some hospitals in Sunyani and Goaso Municipals revealed that patients seeking healthcare services are denied access to consulting rooms in the quest to prevent close contact with patients.

A patient who visits any of these hospitals is met outside by a nurse who receives his/her complains and goes to inform the doctor inside the consulting room. The doctor then prescribes medication to the nurse, which is then handed over to the patient to purchase drugs at the pharmacy. It was explained that this mechanism is to observe social distancing, however, I find this alarming since social distancing could be observed in such a way that could still allow patients to have access to doctors.

However, hand-washing with soap under running water and social distancing at various health centers are strictly observed. Veronica buckets with water and liquid soap are provided in all hospitals and health centers visited, including Sunyani and Goaso Municipal hospitals. Patients and visitors are directed to wash their hands upon arrival and before departure.

The use of nose masks and other PPE is largely not adhered to in the hospitals. The few health workers who had hand sanitizers or nose masks purchased them by themselves.

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Situation at the Sunyani hospital |Photo: Simon