Twenty-four health workers in the Mfantseman municipality have contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, which has affected the staff strength of the directorate.

All of them are currently on treatment and responding accordingly.

The figure is out of the 72 recorded cases in the municipality as of June 9, 2020 and includes one imported case while three of the cases have been referred.

The Mfantseman Municipal Health Directorate has had to re-organise its staff to ensure that the staff left are able to handle the work on hand.

The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Saltpond Hospital, Ms Theresa Naana Yankson, who was speaking on behalf of the Municipal Director of Health, Mr Martin Daanko, made the disclosure when Pacific Oil Foundation, the social responsibility wing of Pacific Oil, an indigenous oil marketing company, last Wednesday presented personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Mfantseman Health Directorate.

Items presented

The items included 10 thermometers, 30 face shields, 5,000 disposable gloves, 30 aprons, 30 goggles, surgical masks and 70 reusable coveralls.

She said the infected workers and their contacts at the hospital, some of whom were also health staff, had been quarantined, and that had had a further toll on the staff strength.
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She said it was obvious that inadequate PPE was a hindrance to the fight against the coronavirus.

Ms Yankson said there were 69 cases in the municipality, 63 of whom were on treatment, with 36 cases (representing 57 per cent) recovering and one death.

Don’t stigmatise

She urged the public to stay calm and not to spread fear or stigmatise persons who had contracted the virus.

She gave an assurance that the PPE would be distributed fairly to all health facilities.

The Operations Manager of Pacific Oil, Mr Sunday Baah Yeboah, said the company was a human-oriented institution that believed that without human lives, its businesses would grind to a halt.

He said Pacific Foundation had also embarked on several projects, including the digging of boreholes, drainage systems, refurbishment of health facilities and offering support to widows.

The Pacific Foundation also presented nose masks to drivers at the Ajumako, Saltpond and Ekumfi lorry stations in Mankessim.