At least 1,870 out of 2,065 health workers infected with the coronavirus in the line of duty have recovered and are back to work, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced.
Director-General, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye who made the disclosure at a news conference in Accra yesterday indicated that six casualties have so far been recorded with 183 others, currently under treatment.
The number of infected health workers formed part of Ghana’s cumulative case count which now stands at 26,125 following the confirmation of 695 new cases.
The new cases, had come from a backlog of tests conducted between June 12 and July 12, this year with the bulk, recorded on June 24 and June 25 respectively.
The number of recoveries and discharges however, has increased to 22, 270 though the death toll remains at 139, which means, that, the country now has 3,716 active cases.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye at the news conference pointed out that the highest number of health worker infections had been recorded in the Greater Accra Region with 588 cases, out of which, 536 had recovered, three dead and 49 under treatment.
The Eastern Region followed suit with 343 cases, Central 295, Ashanti 245, Western 150, Northern 98, Bono East 88, Volta 63 and Bono Region, 53 cases.
The Oti Region has had 47 health staff infected with the virus, Western North 41, Ahafo 24, Upper West 15, Upper East 11, with North East and Savannah, recording two cases each.
“In the initial phases of any pandemic you are likely to see that high number of infection but as you can see, we are having a significant number of recoveries and that tells you that the number of health worker infections is going down.
We are doing more training, personal protective equipment (PPE) availability has improved and this is what is bearing fruit in the many recoveries and we salute all health workers for rising up to the call despite the challenges,” the Director-General said.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye entreated the public to continue wearing face masks to reduce infection rate.
It would be recalled that the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) last Friday had issued a distress call to government to take swift action to avert the “imminent calamitous ramifications” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement jointly signed by the leadership of four health worker unions including the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwife Association, Health Sector Workers Union and the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association expressed concern of the increasing rate of infections among their members warning of dire consequences on the sector.
The groups among others demanded that government ensures the regular provision of PPE for workers, expand capacity of COVID-19 testing centres across the country as well as provide readily, available test kits to prevent undue delays in obtaining test results.
“All health facilities must mandatorily have holding bays to detain all patients who are suspected to have contracted the virus and also provide health facilities with functional infection, prevention and control safety committees,” the statement said.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
