By: Asore Simon Azumah

It is sad to note that frontline health service providers (Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Clinical, Pharmacy, and Administrative staff) in facilities including CHPS, health centers, hospitals are not provided with personal protective equipment to protect themselves in general. This has led to some nurses refusing to attend to patients seeking services.

Simon Asore of Citizens Watch, an NGO operating in the region confirmed reports from some health workers (Names of victims and hospital withheld) that some pregnant women in labour were referred to two major facilities designated as treatment centres for COVID-19 due to lack of PPEs. The report further confirmed that one of these women had the unpleasant experience of delivering in a taxi cap that was transporting her to the referral centre.

The situation is not different from other hospitals like Holy Family Hospital, Sunyani Municipal Hospital, Hwidiem St. Elizabeth at Hwediem etc.

There are inadequate PPEs. Health and Administrative Staff are made to sign on daily basis for one nose mask to be used for the whole day.

Further research reveals that some staff are compelled to use one nose mask or hand gloves for two or three days. Staff- patient’s relationship is getting worse as health staff try avoiding responsibilities that will bring them into close contact with patients