Consultant Advisor to the Minister for Health, and the Chairman for Health Commodities Group for COVID-19, Mr. Matthew Yaw Kyeremeh, has disclosed that his outfit is considering an increase in procuring Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for health workers.
This comes on the back of members of the COVID-19 burial and mortuary team and health workers in general lamenting about the lack of PPE’s for them due to the fact that they come into contact with the virus and the inconsistency of the payment of their allowances.
Speaking on the way forward as to how to attend to the issue of the lack of PPEs, he indicated that, there was going to be the need for an increment in the procurement of the protective apparels and equipment for the various health facilities.
He intimated that, he was aware of the challenges these health workers have in terms of the lack of PPEs for their line of work.
“Yes, I am very much aware of the lack of PPEs to the health workers since the beginning of the whole issue of the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly involving the distribution of PPEs to these health workers.”
Touching on the safety of the workers in this regard, he averred that, it is as a result of the lack of PPEs and other items for the health workers that the Minister for health set up the committee for health commodities to help provide the support to the workers.
“It is as a result that we try as much as possible to keep the health of our health workers protected.
“We know very well that these items are very crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 and so we try as much as possible to ensure that health workers are protected from this virus.”
He disclosed that, although his outfit tries their best to provide the health workers with the protective apparels they are sometimes faced with the challenge of shortages.
He also noted that, the PPEs are distributed to the various health facilities periodically according to an agreed percentage and measures are also being put in place to provide immediately for health facilities who make a request for this equipment aside the periodic supply.
He then urged all the health facilities to reach out to them if there is a complete lack of these equipment, so they provide to enable them work safely and confidently in fighting the pandemic.
“Even as we speak, if we get the request to provide these PPEs immediately, we will find a way to get them to these health facilities.
“You know worldwide and internationally; the issue of PPEs has become a situation. The provision has become a problem but as much as possible, we will ensure that our health workers are given what they need to ensure the fight against the virus.”
However, some health workers have also been reported to not to be adhering to safety protocols, a situation the Ghana Medical Association described as worrying.
In light of this, the GMA has recommended that, sanctions be meted out to health workers who fail to comply to these safety protocols.
