Mr. Elvis Darko, a publications editor has lauded the free testing directive given by the Ministry of Health to the various testing centres as a good initiative.
Speaking in a discussion on the free test directive, he stated that the new directive is going to aid reduce the high cost involved with regards to testing for the virus, adding that, although the initiative was sufficient, it was also taped with some challenges.
He further espoused that, after the testing, health personnel must ensure they check-up on the affected patients and conduct contact tracing on people the patients have come in contact with.
Speaking on adherence to protocols in this regard, Andy Kankam, a publication editor also intimated that, various punitive measures laid down for defaulters of the COVID-19 measures must be aggressively enforced.
Speaking in a discussion, he threw his support behind the calls by the GMA, Occupy Ghana amongst others to government to ensure stricter measures are enforced
“To the end of this matter, I think we will have to go back to the aggressive ways of ensuring precautions were taken.”
He then stated that, the punitive measures to be meted out to offenders of the law will serve as a deterrent to others.
“Instead of arresting somebody and making them go pay GHS 12,000… some know they are supposed to put on their mask but do not do it. They know it’s deliberate. If you are found not to be putting on your mask, we ask you to buy the mask at a higher price or at a price within your range.
“If you have budgeted to spend ten cedis a day and out of it you are made to buy nose mask five cedis, it is punitive enough.”
Mr. Kankam expressed disappointment with the disregard for protocols by citizens who also claim that the virus does not exist with others purporting that it is a pandemic for the rich and further appealed to the general public to adhere to safety measures as well as educating them that the virus is real and is spreading.
He further expressed disappointment with allegations coming up that, ambulance services and some health facilities make certain demands before attending to patients.
Mr.Kankam called on the Health Ministry to look into the allegations and asked that, the ambulances be made effective in the fight against the spread of the virus.
Touching on the new variant, he urged that the nation does all it can to ensure the virus does not add up to the already increasing one. He then asked for the issue not to be politicised and urged that we all come together to help fight this pandemic.
The Health Ministry as part of the fight against COVID-19 has directed public laboratories in the country to drop all charges for Ghanaians who walk in for tests. In a statement from the Ministry to labs, it however noted charges for foreigners should still be in place.
“The Ministry has decided that public COVID-19 testing laboratories providing walk-in services can charge only charge travellers for testing.
“All other walk-in requests such as ill-health, contact tracing and exposure must be done free-of-charge using public health resources.”
