Source: Graphic Online | 27 March 2020

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has begun the provision of food for frontline health workers working in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Tema General Hospital and the Ga East Municipal Hospital.

The PCG is to provide lunch every day for 300 medical staff working at the three designated health centres managing COVID-19 cases in the country for the next seven days.

Each of the designated facilities will receive 100 pieces of packed lunch which will be made up of food, water, soft drinks and fruits for dessert, and estimated to cost GH¢30 per pack.

The intervention by the PCG is aimed at supporting the government’s efforts to control and manage the spread of the virus in the country, which has recorded 132 cases and three deaths.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG, the Rt Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, said this when he visited the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as the Ridge Hospital, last Tuesday.

Accompanied by the leadership of the church, the Moderator presented the first delivery of the lunch to the medical staff.

He also presented 30 boxes of Salem Mineral Water produced by the PCG and 30 cartons of soft drinks.

Presentation

Rt Rev. Prof. Mante said the gesture was to motivate the frontline health workers to discharge their duties in these critical times that their invaluable services were required.

He explained that it was to make it convenient for the health workers to also find time to take care of themselves as it was often the case that during such difficult times, they were overwhelmed with work that they hardly had the time to go out for lunch, “so this will cater for that need”.

“Keep working and don’t be so worried about basic needs such as lunch. We will bring you lunch for the next week,” he assured.

The PCG Moderator encouraged them to discharge their duties selflessly and diligently, stressing that the church would continue to support them in prayers.

Heed protocol

Rt Rev. Prof. Mante said although it was important for Ghanaians to continue praying, it was equally important for the public to take the protocol established by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) seriously and abide by them because they were for the good of the individual, as well as the nation.

“It is necessary that we keep praying but when we pray, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t adhere to protocol. We have to equally abide by the set protocol to remain safe,” he advised.

The Moderator also led the team to say a prayer for the health workers, the public, Ghana and the world against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Appreciation

The Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Charity Sarpong, who received the lunch expressed appreciation to the PCG for its thoughtfulness, saying the gesture would encourage health workers to work wholeheartedly knowing that they were supported by many.

“We thank the PCG, and we appreciate their kind gesture towards health workers and the work we do. To take care of our lunch and also pray for health workers means a lot.

“It is a problem solved and you have brought smiles to the faces of frontline workers, and that, no doubt, will encourage us to do our work diligently,” she added.

She urged the public to keep adhering to the preventive measures and entreated everyone to accept the measures and practise them religiously to ensure the safety of all.

“If we all follow the measures, we can suppress this virus and there may not be a need for a lockdown or any other drastic measures,” she said.

She also appealed to benevolent individuals, institutions and the public to support the various health facilities.